A fascinating historical perspective of the beginning of American history in the 1600s with the quest for gold to contemporary time where the Enlightenment not only produced scientific thoughts but varied degrees of imaginary cults scams and alternate realities which have led us to excessive pursuit of shallow amusements rather than meaningful ideas of substance and benefiting all of society rather than just ourselves a soul searching read Pat .lorello

Kurt Andersen is a very intelligent man and has keen insights into the American experience but this book is hard work for the average reader. I enjoyed his novels much more, especially Heyday. This book is for the very serious reader with a bent toward philosophy, religion, and history. I did not finish... EAF III

How America got obesity, long commutes, anti-vaccination parents, Joseph Smith, essential oils, Dr. Oz, Oprah, relativist academics, Joel Osteen and the mysticism of the new left. Its as if there has been a conspiracy to undermine reason and facts from the moment a few wealthy white guys decided they'd had it with their crown wearing master in London during the last quarter of the 18th Century. Some of the chapters on religion get repetitive but Anderson's tracing of the roots of evangelism and Mormonism are so short and concise and accurate, lengthening them would be a waste of intellect. The concept that technological innovations improve reality is false. Our tech masters have sold us devices and software to enhance our fantasies, to numb the unpleasantness reality. All you have to do is believe in something and if it gives you a feeling of warmth or excitement, well then it must be true. It must be good. Goop on citizens. Hudson Filter that photo of your sedentary life. Devour the green coffee pills, ignore the intelligent design chapters in your kids textbook, get lost tracking down the real story of 9/11 on Infowars. Anyone who tells you that it is all a lie or that science doesn't support the purported benefits is part of the conspiracy and must be ignored. It's a free country, believe whatever you want until the consequences of mass denial pile up and we are all forced to deal with the aftermath. Fantasyland will be a weathered, hot wasteland.