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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Such an interesting read and leaving me with so much to consider. Highly recommend.
informative
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Probably a little too judgmental even for me, a judgmental ass, but this is a pretty good takedown of the madness growing uncontrollable in the American psyche. While religion takes center stage, it is far from the only culprit: Disney, guns, woo woo New Agey stuff, videogames, and everything else that makes the line between the real and the imaginary at least a little blurry comes in for blame. Mostly with justification, and the author does spend time explaining why harmless conceits and fictions are still problematic. I'm not sure it quite all holds together, and it was kind of a slog to read, but it's an interesting book nonetheless.
I agree with the majority of what Mr. Andersen proposes here, but his arguments are skewed and flawed. The good news is that he offends just about everyone at some point in the book. Still, he shows his bias and ignorance regularly. He avoids strong criticism of the major established religions while skewering the newer ones. He refers to Yoga as new age, in spite of it being practiced some believe for 10,000 years. He completely avoids mention of the fact that his beloved Western science has in recent years proven practices like yoga and meditation to be health enhancers, as trillions of people have understood for millennia.
He avoids the fact that science is what we know today and that it will change tomorrow and that sometimes scientists do get it extremely wrong. He points to ancient medical knowledge of the ancient Greeks, while avoiding what they so clearly (and understandably got wrong). Humors anyone? Or that scientists and medical professionals are often persuaded one way or the other to promote harmful practices. Cigarettes anyone? Avoid eggs, anyone? Have a cup full of saccharine anyone? He places the blame for confusion and disbelief at the feet of the ignorant unscientific while avoiding any criticism of the scientific professions.
While he skewers people who eschew modern medicines he gives no coverage to the events which legitimately causes people to question medical advice. Tuskegee experiments anyone? Female hysteria anyone? He avoids any mention of the damage done by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies pushing opioids, in spite of the recent landmark lawsuit decisions that place the blame at their feet.
Furthermore, he shows no pity for parents trying to navigate healthcare for their children. No evidence that vaccines cause autism? Ok. Many understand that, but something is causing autism rates to skyrocket and parents aren't idiots for wanting to avoid this. Want to counter this cultural misbelief--fund research into what is behind the rise in autism. Counter the belief with science that addresses the real concern, why is this happening, rather than continue to vilify parents. And understand that those looking to make sure they make the best choices for their children differ from those believing vaccines include microchips. All those that question, are not created equal.
He also confuses the truly harmful with the preference. A clear preference NOT to eat GMOs is not equivalent to a refusal to vaccinate. He somehow believes that everyone should simply be forced to eat GMOs and that the world would somehow be better if they did.
Having said all this, read this book (and get vaccinated). It pushes the boundaries of critical thinking. It will make you rethink many things you take for granted. Just realize that Mr. Andersen isn't offering answers here.
He avoids the fact that science is what we know today and that it will change tomorrow and that sometimes scientists do get it extremely wrong. He points to ancient medical knowledge of the ancient Greeks, while avoiding what they so clearly (and understandably got wrong). Humors anyone? Or that scientists and medical professionals are often persuaded one way or the other to promote harmful practices. Cigarettes anyone? Avoid eggs, anyone? Have a cup full of saccharine anyone? He places the blame for confusion and disbelief at the feet of the ignorant unscientific while avoiding any criticism of the scientific professions.
While he skewers people who eschew modern medicines he gives no coverage to the events which legitimately causes people to question medical advice. Tuskegee experiments anyone? Female hysteria anyone? He avoids any mention of the damage done by pharmaceutical companies and pharmacies pushing opioids, in spite of the recent landmark lawsuit decisions that place the blame at their feet.
Furthermore, he shows no pity for parents trying to navigate healthcare for their children. No evidence that vaccines cause autism? Ok. Many understand that, but something is causing autism rates to skyrocket and parents aren't idiots for wanting to avoid this. Want to counter this cultural misbelief--fund research into what is behind the rise in autism. Counter the belief with science that addresses the real concern, why is this happening, rather than continue to vilify parents. And understand that those looking to make sure they make the best choices for their children differ from those believing vaccines include microchips. All those that question, are not created equal.
He also confuses the truly harmful with the preference. A clear preference NOT to eat GMOs is not equivalent to a refusal to vaccinate. He somehow believes that everyone should simply be forced to eat GMOs and that the world would somehow be better if they did.
Having said all this, read this book (and get vaccinated). It pushes the boundaries of critical thinking. It will make you rethink many things you take for granted. Just realize that Mr. Andersen isn't offering answers here.
I read this on recommendation of the Last Podcast on the Left AND Coquette and even with those glowing reviews I couldn’t get into it.
I don’t know how it’s possible to make conspiracy theories boring but Kurt Andersen somehow pulled it off. I found his sarcastic tone tedious and grating. DNF.
I don’t know how it’s possible to make conspiracy theories boring but Kurt Andersen somehow pulled it off. I found his sarcastic tone tedious and grating. DNF.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
informative
slow-paced
Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late September.
Even if I was much more fond of the chronology than what Andersen described about the cataclysmic present-day, this is still an extremely fascinating book about the things that seem to relate to American 'exceptionalism,' like religious/spiritual movements, the celebrity of actors, the concept of 'the Old South,' science-fiction, a free compulsory public school system, the Gold Rush, entrepreneurism, pursuit of a higher consciousness through hallucinogenic drugs, survivalism, New Age medicine, and self-help movements.
Even if I was much more fond of the chronology than what Andersen described about the cataclysmic present-day, this is still an extremely fascinating book about the things that seem to relate to American 'exceptionalism,' like religious/spiritual movements, the celebrity of actors, the concept of 'the Old South,' science-fiction, a free compulsory public school system, the Gold Rush, entrepreneurism, pursuit of a higher consciousness through hallucinogenic drugs, survivalism, New Age medicine, and self-help movements.