American Studies
American Studies by Louis Menand, published by Macmillan in 2002, is a first edition that spans 306 pages. This book offers insightful explorations of American cultural history, presenting original perspectives on various significant figures and events. Menand delves into topics such as the implications of William James’s nervous breakdown and the complexities of anti-Semitism in T. S. Eliot’s work, providing a nuanced understanding of the interplay between culture and politics in the United States.
Readers will encounter a range of essays that connect seemingly disparate elements of American life, from the commercial success of media giants like William Shawn’s “New Yorker” to the controversial intersections of Larry Flynt’s “Hustler” and Jerry Falwell’s evangelism. Menand’s work also addresses the cultural impact of figures such as Richard Wright and Norman Mailer, while reflecting on contemporary political moments, including Al Gore’s role during the Starr Report’s release. This edition invites readers to engage with the intricate tapestry of 20th-century American history and social dynamics.
Official synopsis Publisher
From the bestselling author of “The Metaphysical Club,” brilliant illuminations of America yesterday and today.
At each step of this journey through American cultural history, Louis Menand has an original point to make: he explains the real significance of William James’s nervous breakdown, and of the anti-Semitism in T. S. Eliot’s writing. He reveals the reasons for the remarkable commercial successes of William Shawn’s “New Yorker” and William Paley’s CBS. He uncovers the connection between Larry Flynt’s “Hustler” and Jerry Falwell’s evangelism, between the atom bomb and the Scholastic Aptitude Test. He locates the importance of Richard Wright, Norman Mailer, Pauline Kael, Christopher Lasch, and “Rolling Stone” magazine. And he lends an ear to Al Gore in the White House as the Starr Report is finally presented to the public.
Like his critically acclaimed bestseller, “The Metaphysical Club, American Studies” is intellectual and cultural history at its best: game and detached, with a strong curiosity about the political underpinnings of ideas and about the reasons successful ideas insinuate themselves into the culture at large. From one of our leading thinkers and critics, known both for his “sly wit and reportorial high-jinks [and] clarity and rigor” (“The Nation”), these essays are incisive, surprising, and impossible to put down.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “American Studies” about?
Who is the author of “American Studies”?
When was “American Studies” published?
What is the ISBN for “American Studies”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
