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Bad: Or, The Dumbing of America
A satirical reference work identifies and stigmatizes various contemporary examples of public relations attempts to make unnecessary--or downright bad--products seem necessary, discussing banks, restaurants, and canned music
201 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1991
2 people are currently reading
317 people want to read
About the author
Paul Fussell
49 books136 followersPaul Fussell was an American cultural and literary historian, author and university professor. His writings covered a variety of topics, from scholarly works on eighteenth-century English literature to commentary on America’s class system. He was an U.S. Army Infantry officer in the European theater during World War II (103rd U.S. Infantry Division) and was awarded both the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He is best known for his writings about World War I and II.
He began his teaching career at Connecticut College (1951–55) before moving to Rutgers University in 1955 and finally the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. He also taught at the University of Heidelberg (1957–58) and King’s College London (1990–92). As a teacher, he traveled widely with his family throughout Europe during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, taking Fulbright and sabbatical years in Germany, England and France.
He began his teaching career at Connecticut College (1951–55) before moving to Rutgers University in 1955 and finally the University of Pennsylvania in 1983. He also taught at the University of Heidelberg (1957–58) and King’s College London (1990–92). As a teacher, he traveled widely with his family throughout Europe during the 1950s, 60s and 70s, taking Fulbright and sabbatical years in Germany, England and France.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 9, 2009
Fussell’s definition of BAD (as opposed to just plain bad) is, “something phony, clumsy, witless, untalented, vacant, or boring that many Americans can be persuaded is genuine, graceful, bright, or fascinating.” And, oh boy, is there a truckload of BAD in this country! Fussell covers everything from movies to books to restaurants and more. The entire chapter on BAD conversation should be sent en masse to everyone in this country.
On television: “Although now and then it tries to cover its shame and put on airs, television is a grossly proletarian medium, efficient at merchandising denture cleaners and incontinence diapers, beer, laxatives, cars and laundry supplies, but death to books, ideas, the sense of history and the complexities, subtleties and ironies of civilized discourse.” Yep, that sounds terribly accurate.
Other great quotes…
Quoting Vladimir Nabokov: “Intellectuals do not join groups.”
On BAD restaurant menus (but entirely applicable to nearly everything in this country): “These pander to the sacred American conviction that vast “choice” among the third-rate is superior to limited choice among the good.”
“America’s main contribution to the world is BAD. It is the thing we are best at.”
“The United States especially overflows with it because of all countries it is the most addicted to self-praise and complacency – even more than France.”
Fussell bears a certain resemblance to Fred Willard, which had me hearing Willard’s voice reading the text in my head. If this were a book on tape, Willard would be the perfect choice to read it.
Laugh out loud funny and incredibly poignant, BAD: The Dumbing Of America is the most satisfying read I’ve had in a long time. It’s nice to find someone who shares your attitudes and opinions but this book, to me, is a gold mine of awesome. I have a new hero and his name is Paul Fussell.
On television: “Although now and then it tries to cover its shame and put on airs, television is a grossly proletarian medium, efficient at merchandising denture cleaners and incontinence diapers, beer, laxatives, cars and laundry supplies, but death to books, ideas, the sense of history and the complexities, subtleties and ironies of civilized discourse.” Yep, that sounds terribly accurate.
Other great quotes…
Quoting Vladimir Nabokov: “Intellectuals do not join groups.”
On BAD restaurant menus (but entirely applicable to nearly everything in this country): “These pander to the sacred American conviction that vast “choice” among the third-rate is superior to limited choice among the good.”
“America’s main contribution to the world is BAD. It is the thing we are best at.”
“The United States especially overflows with it because of all countries it is the most addicted to self-praise and complacency – even more than France.”
Fussell bears a certain resemblance to Fred Willard, which had me hearing Willard’s voice reading the text in my head. If this were a book on tape, Willard would be the perfect choice to read it.
Laugh out loud funny and incredibly poignant, BAD: The Dumbing Of America is the most satisfying read I’ve had in a long time. It’s nice to find someone who shares your attitudes and opinions but this book, to me, is a gold mine of awesome. I have a new hero and his name is Paul Fussell.
April 6, 2012
This book is bad, but not BAD. The premise of it is that America specifically has become BAD-when standard badness or crappiness gets promoted as good usually through pretention, laziness, or other factors. He lists brief snapshots of BAD thinking, BAD movies, etc. Some more or less are repeated from his book Class, some are new.
However without the structure of Class, this book comes across as random whining about things he doesn't like. It's more snobbery about America, with some of it being quite unfair and arbitrary. It's also much too brief, trying to cover every aspect of BAD culture in a few pages. While some of it endures, a lot is dated: cell phone usage for one has made a BAD practice he cites standard, and ragging on the twin towers is a bit uncomfortable post 9-11. There's also no real standard of BAD: the definition is much too loose, and counterexamples are few.
I'd avoid this and just read Class instead. If you have read it, this doesn't add enough new to bother with.
However without the structure of Class, this book comes across as random whining about things he doesn't like. It's more snobbery about America, with some of it being quite unfair and arbitrary. It's also much too brief, trying to cover every aspect of BAD culture in a few pages. While some of it endures, a lot is dated: cell phone usage for one has made a BAD practice he cites standard, and ragging on the twin towers is a bit uncomfortable post 9-11. There's also no real standard of BAD: the definition is much too loose, and counterexamples are few.
I'd avoid this and just read Class instead. If you have read it, this doesn't add enough new to bother with.
November 16, 2012
Considering the author's disdain of fancy words for pretentious purposes, I have to wonder why he chose to use the word "emplaced" instead of placed or "descanted" instead of commented, remarked, or criticized. Hmm.
Fussel is on a rant and offers little to no argument to back up his opinions. Even though I agree with some of his opinions I can't recommend this book. Try Class if the topic interests you.
Fussel is on a rant and offers little to no argument to back up his opinions. Even though I agree with some of his opinions I can't recommend this book. Try Class if the topic interests you.
September 4, 2018
I found this book quite interesting, because it exposed many secrets of things that I have experienced in my life, and things that I experience everyday. The author starts out by explaining the meaning of something that is just bad, as well as the meaning of something that is indeed, BAD. He establishes his claim from the beginning, stating how, even though the BAD epidemic is nearly everywhere, it mainly resonates in the United States of America.
The author uses examples all throughout the book through every chapter in order to support his claim. I found myself being particularly convinced at the points the author was making/trying to make, since he exposed examples of BAD in our everyday lives. I felt somewhat connected to this topic, because of how prominent it is, and because I have experienced it, and never knew until I read this book. He uses all different types of examples, everywhere from BAD airlines, to BAD films.
In the end, I did disagree with some of the claims the author made, such as that some of today's magnificent architecture is resemblant of a people under totalitarian leadership. Also within some of the author's claims, it seemed as though he had no counterclaims/counterarguments, which made me at least a little skeptical. All in all, though, I liked the idea that the author was not afraid of being a little bit ruthless to many industries that display BAD on a daily basis. His writing seemed a tad bit rebellious, but it worked for him in getting his points across.
The author uses examples all throughout the book through every chapter in order to support his claim. I found myself being particularly convinced at the points the author was making/trying to make, since he exposed examples of BAD in our everyday lives. I felt somewhat connected to this topic, because of how prominent it is, and because I have experienced it, and never knew until I read this book. He uses all different types of examples, everywhere from BAD airlines, to BAD films.
In the end, I did disagree with some of the claims the author made, such as that some of today's magnificent architecture is resemblant of a people under totalitarian leadership. Also within some of the author's claims, it seemed as though he had no counterclaims/counterarguments, which made me at least a little skeptical. All in all, though, I liked the idea that the author was not afraid of being a little bit ruthless to many industries that display BAD on a daily basis. His writing seemed a tad bit rebellious, but it worked for him in getting his points across.
September 2, 2018
Paul Fussell´s ¨Bad, or The Dumbing of America¨ not only opened my eyes into seeing what trickery actually goes on everyday in society, but also taught me that despite all of these BAD things, there is still hope as long as everyone learns that these things he is warning of can be stopped or realized.
Fussell´s writing style is like no other. He takes shots at every business and possible item that he thinks needs to be reformed. He doesnt hold back, and points out flaws in their advertising, leadership, and most importantly, the actual quality of their services. He uses satire to help to engage the reader instead of just listing facts or listing his opinion.
Although the only reason I read this was for a summer English assignment, I´m very glad I did as I learned personally about the flaws and little quirks about tons of businesses that I either hadn´t known before or hadn´t realized. From now on, my eyes will be open, looking for flaws and looking for tricks that businesses use to get the most out of their customers, or ¨guests¨. (Refer to BAD Language :) )
Overall, this book is a masterpiece that can become boring at times if you don´t fully focus on what Fussell is trying to communicate to you, the reader. He is trying to point out the hidden features of society that everyone should come to realize. Highly recommend, put in the couple of hours to read it, and you will constantly fbe noticing the flaws that Fussell points out.
Fussell´s writing style is like no other. He takes shots at every business and possible item that he thinks needs to be reformed. He doesnt hold back, and points out flaws in their advertising, leadership, and most importantly, the actual quality of their services. He uses satire to help to engage the reader instead of just listing facts or listing his opinion.
Although the only reason I read this was for a summer English assignment, I´m very glad I did as I learned personally about the flaws and little quirks about tons of businesses that I either hadn´t known before or hadn´t realized. From now on, my eyes will be open, looking for flaws and looking for tricks that businesses use to get the most out of their customers, or ¨guests¨. (Refer to BAD Language :) )
Overall, this book is a masterpiece that can become boring at times if you don´t fully focus on what Fussell is trying to communicate to you, the reader. He is trying to point out the hidden features of society that everyone should come to realize. Highly recommend, put in the couple of hours to read it, and you will constantly fbe noticing the flaws that Fussell points out.
September 4, 2018
I thoroughly enjoyed Paul Fussell's narrative of the ignorance in America in this book. His tone was slightly sarcastic which made me like this book more. He explains in this book how Americans praise different bad things, making them BAD, or "good" in their minds. And although this book was published in 1992, Fussell's narrative of America is still very relevant to today, almost 26 years later.
In just around 200 pages, he is able to provide a description of how 30 different things that range from advertising to cities to movies are BAD. He is very succinct in his writing, so he is able to explain most items in just 3-4 pages, making it a quick read.
This book has an interesting take on America and how the population lacks integrity in it's taste, how we will believe just about anything is good, if someone convinces us. I really appreciated this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a sarcastically sophisticated read.
In just around 200 pages, he is able to provide a description of how 30 different things that range from advertising to cities to movies are BAD. He is very succinct in his writing, so he is able to explain most items in just 3-4 pages, making it a quick read.
This book has an interesting take on America and how the population lacks integrity in it's taste, how we will believe just about anything is good, if someone convinces us. I really appreciated this book and I highly recommend this book to anyone who appreciates a sarcastically sophisticated read.
November 16, 2020
I've been dipping into the Fussell backlist and, alas, what worked so well for CLASS fails to congeal in this book of generalizations. He can let his snobbery fly convincingly in CLASS. But here, his observations are a lot more general and arbitrary. If Fussell were alive, he would probably condemn the nobrow state of the world we presently live in. Sometimes, he is gloriously trenchant -- particularly in condemning truly anti-intellectual strains and bad fashion. But what self-respecting human would rebuke bowling? Come on, now. We all deserve a few pleasures. It doesn't make us simians.
August 9, 2007
Fussell is a cranky man. But what our culture needs is more cranks, and Fussell is one of our greatest.
So what is the difference between 'bad' and 'BAD'? You'll have to read to find out. But if you want a funny, witty look at American 'culture' that spares nothing, you need this book. It's a book that our country, which boasts a populace that is poor, morbidly obese and yet somehow malnourished, needs.
So what is the difference between 'bad' and 'BAD'? You'll have to read to find out. But if you want a funny, witty look at American 'culture' that spares nothing, you need this book. It's a book that our country, which boasts a populace that is poor, morbidly obese and yet somehow malnourished, needs.
July 17, 2012
Disappointing after CLASS - A throwaway, sometimes funny, sometimes savage, but sadly never consistently either. It's not enough to list a few bad things and a few BAD things - you need a big theory of why dumb crap is taking over and what can be done. Otherwise it's just sniffy noises from behind the curtains.
February 21, 2021
Thought he made some valid points; lost a star when he whined about how the World Trade Center sucked. A list of random BAD things:
- jogging in public
- naming your cat "Clytemnestra"
- Apocalypse Now
- symphony conductors (he really hates these guys--they were in TWO chapters)
- Peter Falk
In his book talking about pretentiousness and the vacuous nature of advertising, the hardcover version has praise for his OTHER book scrawled across the back cover.
Have you choked on your irony yet, Mr. Fussell?
- jogging in public
- naming your cat "Clytemnestra"
- Apocalypse Now
- symphony conductors (he really hates these guys--they were in TWO chapters)
- Peter Falk
In his book talking about pretentiousness and the vacuous nature of advertising, the hardcover version has praise for his OTHER book scrawled across the back cover.
Have you choked on your irony yet, Mr. Fussell?
December 14, 2021
His earlier book, Class, was exceptional. He wrote about a subject with straightforwardness and keen incite that few would dare discuss, due to its sensitive nature in our society. It was a great relief, great laugh, and great sharpening of the vision to find all of these countless observations that we all have written down in clear English and arranged neatly in a system, without the author ever holding back.
This book (BAD) was a complete disappointment compared to the other. I don't know how it is possible for the two to have been written by the same author but that seems to be the case. He starts by defining BAD as that which is bad but is held to be great. This is a simple idea but could be just interesting enough to serve as a bonding agent for a book like this, if the individual chapters were interesting enough. Sadly, the content was the worst part.
One chapter consists of his histrionic airport stories, barely worth discussing with family at dinner, after which he concludes that air travel and airports are not merely bad but BAD. A case he fails to make despite his examples and his definition of BAD which is stretchy enough to include virtually anything he does not like. His main complaints deal with overcrowding and tight seats compared to the private cabins of the pre-war era, yet attributes the problems to private enterprise, too few regulations, and the profit motive. This seems to be his default answer to why everything is not to his liking. At these points, he comes across as a socialist of the most ignorant sort (usually called intellectuals) who thinks governmental regulations and public ownership can solve all problems without facing trade-offs. Does he really think that with greater regulations or public ownership every passenger would have his own cabin, because there is no longer a profit motive? Who pays for the extra barrels of oil needed for each passenger, especially considering his stated preference for oil over nuclear as an energy source just a few pages prior? Is he against affordable travel for the middle classes? Then it is sheer pretentiousness to criticize them for being unworldly and uncultured.
He then moves on to the lowest hanging fruit of them all--architectural criticism. Architecture is so universally bad nowadays, and somehow keeps getting ever worse, that it is the easiest thing in the world to criticize with wit and intelligence, yet somehow he completely misses the mark on this one. His examples are neither representative of the bad architecture of the US nor are they exceptionally bad. He makes the classic grade-schooler criticism of modern architecture--'I don't like boring glass boxes and low ceilings'--without adding anything original to it. His proposed solution is classical and traditional details that make allusions to the past. How remarkably original for a book written in 1991! And what triply BAD results came of it! He reveals himself to have architectural tastes and incites solidly on par with a typical towny conservative.
At this point I had to stop reading. The torrents of my scorn and criticism were too great and I had to cut off the impetus and drain myself of this rant. This commonplace bickering and smug ignorance masquerading as profound cultural criticism was just too much for me to handle. Is this book not the quintessence of BAD?
This book (BAD) was a complete disappointment compared to the other. I don't know how it is possible for the two to have been written by the same author but that seems to be the case. He starts by defining BAD as that which is bad but is held to be great. This is a simple idea but could be just interesting enough to serve as a bonding agent for a book like this, if the individual chapters were interesting enough. Sadly, the content was the worst part.
One chapter consists of his histrionic airport stories, barely worth discussing with family at dinner, after which he concludes that air travel and airports are not merely bad but BAD. A case he fails to make despite his examples and his definition of BAD which is stretchy enough to include virtually anything he does not like. His main complaints deal with overcrowding and tight seats compared to the private cabins of the pre-war era, yet attributes the problems to private enterprise, too few regulations, and the profit motive. This seems to be his default answer to why everything is not to his liking. At these points, he comes across as a socialist of the most ignorant sort (usually called intellectuals) who thinks governmental regulations and public ownership can solve all problems without facing trade-offs. Does he really think that with greater regulations or public ownership every passenger would have his own cabin, because there is no longer a profit motive? Who pays for the extra barrels of oil needed for each passenger, especially considering his stated preference for oil over nuclear as an energy source just a few pages prior? Is he against affordable travel for the middle classes? Then it is sheer pretentiousness to criticize them for being unworldly and uncultured.
He then moves on to the lowest hanging fruit of them all--architectural criticism. Architecture is so universally bad nowadays, and somehow keeps getting ever worse, that it is the easiest thing in the world to criticize with wit and intelligence, yet somehow he completely misses the mark on this one. His examples are neither representative of the bad architecture of the US nor are they exceptionally bad. He makes the classic grade-schooler criticism of modern architecture--'I don't like boring glass boxes and low ceilings'--without adding anything original to it. His proposed solution is classical and traditional details that make allusions to the past. How remarkably original for a book written in 1991! And what triply BAD results came of it! He reveals himself to have architectural tastes and incites solidly on par with a typical towny conservative.
At this point I had to stop reading. The torrents of my scorn and criticism were too great and I had to cut off the impetus and drain myself of this rant. This commonplace bickering and smug ignorance masquerading as profound cultural criticism was just too much for me to handle. Is this book not the quintessence of BAD?
April 24, 2025
Not sure where I heard of this book, so offhand I've no one to blame for picking it up at the local library. It's sort of funny, there are a few gems now and then, but overall it's fairly simple and not that interesting. Fussell uses BAD (yes, in caps) to define something he finds, well, BAD. He also uses regular old bad too, and then moves on from there.
I did like the author photo, seems like a jolly big guy. Nice smile.
The book is short, just 201 pages. I made it about through page 70. Couldn't take anymore. It might be better as a book to pick up now and then.
I did like the author photo, seems like a jolly big guy. Nice smile.
The book is short, just 201 pages. I made it about through page 70. Couldn't take anymore. It might be better as a book to pick up now and then.
September 22, 2021
The author comes off a rambling irritable educated grandpa in the early 90’s ranting about everything bullshit in America, trivial and serious.
I found it alternating between amusing and tedious, more frequently the latter, but it had enough insightful ranting to make it worth the time spent on the cranky-old-man-who-hates-everyone parts.
I found it alternating between amusing and tedious, more frequently the latter, but it had enough insightful ranting to make it worth the time spent on the cranky-old-man-who-hates-everyone parts.
March 18, 2026
Dated - things are so much worse now!
March 10, 2013
Two and a Half Men is bad television, but Downton Abbey is BAD television. The difference as explained by Fussell is that "bad" is just poorly executed while "BAD" is also pretentious. A dinner at Burger King might be bad, but a dinner at a pompous bistro where more effort is put into the creative writing in the menu than the actual cooking is definitely BAD.
The twenty years that have passed since the publication of this book make some of Fussell's complaints almost quaint, for example he complains about BAD newspapers but now newspapers are almost a thing of the past. At his best Fussell is a sharp cultural critic with a bit of a condescending elitist edge; at his worst he comes across like a tired Andy Rooney piece from 60 Minutes about how nothing is as good as it used to be.
The twenty years that have passed since the publication of this book make some of Fussell's complaints almost quaint, for example he complains about BAD newspapers but now newspapers are almost a thing of the past. At his best Fussell is a sharp cultural critic with a bit of a condescending elitist edge; at his worst he comes across like a tired Andy Rooney piece from 60 Minutes about how nothing is as good as it used to be.
December 8, 2014
I enjoyed the author's "Class" somewhat more than this book, but that should not detract from this book's unique contribution to the explanation of how American culture becomes more jaded and retrograde with each passing day. His catalog of "bad things" could equally be called "getting worse without compunction." As usual, the professor keeps it lively with sharp wit and clean writing. His take on the American educational system and its increasing hucksterism will leave you paralyzed with laughter.
September 9, 2008
I think of this book every time a waiter tells me how an item is 'presented.' Fussell's theory is that there's bad (things that are not good) and then there's BAD (things that are overly pretentious and bad). The book is a series of funny and curmudgeonly essays on particular instances of BAD in American culture, and language (the 'presentation' of a meal, calling a townhouse a 'townhome') is one of his favorite topics.
November 9, 2024
This was a re-read for me, some 30 yrs. after my initial read, and pretty much as enjoyable this time as the first. Fussell was quite the cantankerous contrarian, and a bit of a snob (though snobs are among the many things that he railed against), but he was pretty much spot-on about many things. It'd be interesting to hear his take on where we are in 2024.
May 18, 2008
Fussell's book is really just a collection of short, cranky essays on prole drift and the increasingly frustrating character of life in America, but his insightful observations and cool, deadly prose make this work reading.
August 2, 2009
Paul Fussell is a critic and english professor who has an acerbic and keen eye for the absurd, the contentious and the meaningful. This is a screed against modernity and a funny, witty and perceptive one.
November 5, 2016
For someone who claims to dislike pomposity so much, he sure writes with a lot of it...
Part of the problem is that the book is dated now, but part of the problem is also the author's own self-righteous airs in making criticisms.
Part of the problem is that the book is dated now, but part of the problem is also the author's own self-righteous airs in making criticisms.
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May 3, 2007Here, we find Fussell as hilarious, cranky, grumpy, and insightful as ever.
August 14, 2007
Absolutely fabulous laseration of America's worst foibles! I couldn't stop laughing!
December 25, 2007
Superb read. Makes many great observations about modern society especially in America.
February 29, 2008
How can something be so depressing, but so fun to read? It's like being in the Magic Teacups on Valium...look, everything's going down the toilet...giggle...
January 4, 2009
Elitist whining about why/how people are stupid. Does not age well.
February 26, 2009
Total letdown after the brilliant, sardonic "Class". Also, very dated.
August 24, 2009
Did you like the movie idiocracy? This book explains how we are on the road to that future.
July 16, 2014
The opinion of a grumpy aging white man that everything is going to hell in a handbasket. Which is worse: those who say everything is getting worse, or those who say everything is getting better?
October 4, 2010
A sort of sequel to the far superior Class but still insightful and funny. Fussell is a wonderful curmudgeon.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews