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A review by dusang
The Age of American Unreason in a Culture of Lies by Susan Jacoby
2.0
Finished: In my review of Empire of Illusion I suggested reading this book instead of that rambling, pointless diatribe. In rereading Jacoby, although still better than Empire, there are parts where this sounds more like an old white lady lamenting the decline of society and comparing it to the good old days of her childhood than the reasoned historical narrative I remember. I'm particularly disappointed at how little was updated to include and reflect the last ten years, as 2008 seems like a lifetime ago when talking about a culture of infotainment, distraction, or junk thought. Although what she does include of the last ten years is some of the least supported, most judgmental writing in the book, where her knowledge, study, understanding, and appreciation for the monumental shifts in society and culture are so weak as to be non-existent.
Half-way point: I read this about ten years ago, when the first edition was released. I remember liking it at the time but reading it now I'm surprised at how little of it I actually remembered. Also, I'm a bit more skeptical of it -- I remember thinking that I didn't know many of the historical/cultural references she was making when I first read it but chalked that up to my own inadequate knowledge of mid-century American history. Now it seems rather tone deaf, I honestly don't know who her intended audience is except, perhaps, people exactly like her, which fundamentally only adds to the fractured and polarized discourse she's lamenting. Also, I'm disappointed at how little has been updated to include the last ten years. Hopefully there will be more added content in later chapters.
Half-way point: I read this about ten years ago, when the first edition was released. I remember liking it at the time but reading it now I'm surprised at how little of it I actually remembered. Also, I'm a bit more skeptical of it -- I remember thinking that I didn't know many of the historical/cultural references she was making when I first read it but chalked that up to my own inadequate knowledge of mid-century American history. Now it seems rather tone deaf, I honestly don't know who her intended audience is except, perhaps, people exactly like her, which fundamentally only adds to the fractured and polarized discourse she's lamenting. Also, I'm disappointed at how little has been updated to include the last ten years. Hopefully there will be more added content in later chapters.