Fantasyland

Listened to it on Audible. So apparently there have always been crackpots and crazies in America and unfortunately I guess there always will be. If you don't require any evidence to support your beliefs then there is nothing to stop you believing in anything. The author is more optimistic about our future than I am

This book has two major premises: (1) American irrationality is as old as the republic itself, older. It's as American as apple pie. (2) Right wing and Christian ascendency and imperviousness to facts share a common origin with left wing hippie culture of the 1960s, i.e. create your own reality. However you weigh the accuracy of the arguments, this book is a delight to read in both its accessibility and its inspiration.

A really fascinating – if a bit cynical – review of American history mapped along hoaxes, scams, (false) conspiracy theories, religion, cults, and other false beliefs in an attempt to describe and explain our current cultural and political state.

I think he makes a bit too much of some points – his denigration of libertarianism, video games, LARPing, Disney, Las Vegas, etc. – but the overall thrust of his thesis is quite thought-provoking. And I do appreciate that he attempts to balance his commentary slightly to avoid coming off as TOTALLY motivated in his reasoning.

A fantastic (in the modern sense of fantastic meaning well-crafted, rather than the original sense of being unbelievable) history of American wishful and magical thinking. I wish that American religious and political types would read this, but I'm rational enough to know that won't happen.

4.5 stars. I rounded down because I wish it didn't careen from topic to topic so frequently.