The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

Questions About The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

by George Packer

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I "want" to read this book, but it also sounds incredibly demoralizing and depressing, such that I fear I may want to "un-read" it afterwards. What say ye, who've read it. Do you recommend it for someone who doesn't want a complete doom-and-gloom prognostication of America?
Peter It is painful to read, but less painful than living through it or thinking about it, and it has the advantage of giving you some information you might…moreIt is painful to read, but less painful than living through it or thinking about it, and it has the advantage of giving you some information you might not have already known. It is structured after John Dos Passos’ “USA” which was about a similar unwinding, so if you enjoy this, you will likely also like “USA.” My only complaint was that it was shallow on detail of why these things happened---what were the economic forces at play? For that, I recommend two books. First, Barry C. Lynn, “Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction.” After reading that, the uniquely American phenomenon of increasing management pay with decreasing labor costs will make shocking sense. Second is Michael J. Sandel’s “What Money Can’t Buy” on the destructive impact of market based thinking on the very fragile social fabric of community. (less)
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