Why we hate us : American discontent in the new millennium / Dick Meyer.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Meyer, Dick.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Civilization.

United States--Civilization--21st century.

United States.

Political culture--United States.

Political culture.

Popular culture--United States.

Popular culture.

United States--Social conditions--21st century.

Social conditions.

Physical Description:

xi, 271 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Crown Publishers, [2008]

Summary:

Here, journalist Meyer nails America's early-twenty-first-century mood disorder. He points out the most widespread symptoms, including the belligerence of partisan politics that perverts our democracy, the decline of once common manners, the vulgarity of Hollywood entertainment, the superficiality and untrustworthiness of the news media, the cult of celebrity, and the disappearance of authentic neighborhoods and voluntary organizations (the kind that have actual meetings where one can hobnob instead of just clicking in an online contribution). Meyer argues that when the social, spiritual, and political turmoil that followed the sixties collided with the technological and media revolution at the turn of the century, something inside us hit overload: our culture no longer reflects our own values. As a result, we are now morally and existentially tired, disoriented, anchorless, and defensive. The author also offers an uplifting prescription for breaking out of our current morass and learning how to hate us less.--From publisher description.

Contents:

Land of the fake

Early twenty-first-century irritants

America untied

OmniMedia

Phony people, phony places

A civic war

OmniMarketing

The character gap

Authenticity, thoughtfulness, and many things.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-258) and index.

ISBN:

9780307406620

0307406628

OCLC:

213079679