Why We Hate Us: American Discontent In The New Millennium (2008) - Plot & Excerpts
Like others, I thought the premise of the book was interesting and was looking forward to reading it. However, like others, I couldn't finish it. I usually give books until page 100 to make a decision on - this one didn't even make it to page 50 before I was flipping through the book wondering if the whole thing was going to be the same as what I just read.Unfortunately, rather than make a statement and then expound on it further with studies, interviews, etc., Dick Meyer just makes a statement and then continues to complain about the statement he's made. It really just comes across as the old guy waving his cane at the neighborhood kids, yelling at them to get off his lawn. I deal with enough curmudgeons in my day-to-day life - I don't need to be reading one during time when I am supposed to be relaxing. Instead of insight into Americans, I only gained insight into Dick Meyer. Not a happy place to be. This was an excellent book. Dick Meyer has tapped into a strong undercurrent of discontent within American society that most of us are not aware of but feel the effects of all the time. Americans are more interested in living their lives vicariously through reality-based TV shows and of buying bigger and bigger houses and bigger and bigger cars but they don't understand the angst which drives them to behave this way. Our communities are becoming less and less cohesive because we fail to make real connections with the people around us. Our lives are becoming consumed by what Meyer's calls "Omnimedia" which dramatically influences our choices in life. Meyer's notes that we are losing our connections to one another and to our communities more now than we have been in the past. And this is driven by a multitude of factors. We are becoming more Balkanized than ever before -- gridlock in government, defined into "Red" and "Blue", "Right" and "Left", "Conservative" and Liberal" -- it's become so pervasive and so insidious that we seek to escape at any cost. What he argues for is that we need to redevelop our connections, both within and outside of, our communities. We also need to redevelop our moral temperament so that we understand that pluralism is good so long as we can maintain our cohesion as a society and not become Balkanized to the point that our nation falls apart. Overall this was an awesome book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has sensed this undercurrent of angst and wondered what it really is.
What do You think about Why We Hate Us: American Discontent In The New Millennium (2008)?
Will be reading this one with two friends to discuss the content. Yes, a book club...
—oubekhet
I learned that I am a philosopher at heart. Is that a bad thing? I can't help it.
—ronitlit
why i hated this book would take more time to write than i care to waste.
—shahofwar
Cranky, but very thought provoking.
—SMILE and the world smiles with you
