Trivializing America

by Norman Corwin

Looks at mediocrity and the search for sensation in America, and discusses trends in education, sports, art, music, law, and religion

286 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2000

Reviews

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Relevant. Much of the content is now widely acknowledged or popularly noted. This was written before the internet, so the topics of ubiquitous advertising, trivializing news, and mediocre standards, read today, resound even louder. Corwin sticks to his main theme over the course of 270 pages, and a dozen chapters: triviality. Rather than belabor, he succinctly gets to the point, then moves on to the next area of concern. There's a lot of sound criticism of presidents Reagan, Nixon, & Johnson. Of Johnson, it was noted that he only read one book during his presidency, and that he, like most, hardly ever read at all. Okay, so there are readers, and non-readers. Personally, obviously, I read, and do enjoy it. I recognize the labor in reading, the distaste for it in this electronic age, and know that most people read very little. No time, no discipline, no knack, no interest, whatever the reason, I can understand. But deeply troubled and bothered am I over the trivializing of learning. Not all books are educational, some mislead or confound, others can even cause big problems in a culture susceptible to circumstances, or zealotry. But an overwhelming majority of literature stimulates, teaches, informs, builds, enlightens, captures, and educates readers. More often than not, one will turn the last page of a book with a feeling of accomplishment, and some kernel of knowledge. People grow while reading good books; they are enriched from having read great books. Corwin resolves "Trivializing America" with a paean for the durability & societal utility of universities. He advocates humanities. There's a small section towards the end about etymology, its absence from elementary schools, and its potential for reviving the intelligent, learned individual. Words borrowed from Greek gods and goddesses, or from other countries, people, things--Corwin sees in the average person a dull boredom satiated by drivel from screens and sensational news. I read this book thinking, "Gosh, all of this is here, right now, I'm living the afterword of an America trivialized!" Some of the content leads me toward despondency and apathy, a defeated state, a resigned mind. There are people in powerful positions who just don't get it, and so they'll never effect the change that would come from caring. Such persons are insulated in their particular affluent world, never encountering people who need help, never meeting a mind unlike their own, and their say holds powerful weight in policies. I think it's all about the public schools: the improvements need to begin there.

The book's only 3 stars because it's a little dated, and much of the information is not revelatory. Corwin writes with excellence, sentences are not lengthy due to the insertion of cogent words and effective syntax. He's written plays, and is everywhere in media. The book's part history, part analysis & critique, but is not done as a scholarly essay; it is a commentary on mediocrity spreading & thriving.