A cultural history of the last forty years, The Age of American Unreason focuses on the convergence of social forces—usually treated as separate entities—that has created a perfect storm of anti-rationalism. These include the upsurge of religious fundamentalism, with more political power today than ever before; the failure of public education to create an informed citizenry; and the triumph of video over print culture. Sparing neither the right nor the left, Jacoby asserts that Americans today have embraced a universe of “junk thought” that makes almost no effort to separate fact from opinion.
Reviews -
“There are few subjects more timely than the one tackled by Jacoby. . . . Her book is smart [and] well-researched.” - Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“Forceful. . . . Cogently argued. . . . An intellectual journey of the first order.” - Chicago Tribune
“One hopes Jacoby's incisive book will find an audience among the unconverted who will take her warnings seriously.” - San Francisco Chronicle
Reviews -
“There are few subjects more timely than the one tackled by Jacoby. . . . Her book is smart [and] well-researched.” - Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times
“Forceful. . . . Cogently argued. . . . An intellectual journey of the first order.” - Chicago Tribune
“One hopes Jacoby's incisive book will find an audience among the unconverted who will take her warnings seriously.” - San Francisco Chronicle