Culture Wars! The Great American Divide
Explore the books that define America's Culture Wars, from Thomas Frank's political analysis to Jim Wallis on faith. Discover the great American divide through this curated reading list.
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The Wrecking Crew
by Thomas Frank
From the bestselling author of What's The Matter With Kansas?, an exposé of the Washington conservatism has built: how it works, how it doesn't, and why it's here to stay
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What's the Matter with Kansas?
by Thomas Frank
With a New Afterword by the Author The New York Times bestseller, praised as "hilariously funny . . . the only way to understand why so many Americans have decided to vote against their own economic and political interests" (Molly Ivins) Hailed as "dazzlingly insightful and wonderfully sardonic" (Chicago Tribune), "very funny and very painful" (San Francisco Chronicle), and "in a different league from most political books" (The New York Observer), What's the Matter with Kansas? unravels the great political mystery of our day: Why do so many Americans vote against their economic and social interests? With his acclaimed wit and acuity, Thomas Frank answers the riddle by examining his home state, Kansas-a place once famous for its radicalism that now ranks among the nation's most eager participants in the culture wars. Charting what he calls the "thirty-year backlash"-the popular revolt against a supposedly liberal establishment-Frank reveals how conservatism, once a marker of class privilege, became the creed of millions of ordinary Americans. A brilliant analysis-and funny to boot-What's the Matter with Kansas? is a vivid portrait of an upside-down world where blue-collar patriots recite the Pledge while they strangle their life chances; where small farmers cast their votes for a Wall Street order that will eventually push them off their land; and where a group of frat boys, lawyers, and CEOs has managed to convince the country that it speaks on behalf of the People.
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The Big God Network
by J.C. McGowan
"Baba Ed's wealthy Offworld cult seeks to interact with aliens through 'The Channel, ' hot technology sought by bionic Yakuza, AI hitmen, ruthless multinationals, wired Evangelicals with virtual churches, and the rapture-obsessed president of New America, who seeks to rewrite post-American history and take back Pacifica, heathen neighbor to the west. Franz Sampaio, host of the 'Transmigrations' world-religions Net show, must safeguard the Channel and protect Pacifica, even as uncanny events indicate possible extraterrestrial visitors. Set in near future California, Bali, Tokyo and cyberspace, 'The Big God Network' is a science-fiction adventure-comedy that is both a political satire and a spiritual journey."--Publisher's description
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God's Politics
by Jim Wallis
New York Times bestseller God's Politics struck a chord with Americans disenchanted with how the Right had co-opted all talk about integrating religious values into our politics, and with the Left, who were mute on the subject. Jim Wallis argues that America's separation of church and state does not require banishing moral and religious values from the public square. God's Politics offers a vision for how to convert spiritual values into real social change and has started a grassroots movement to hold our political leaders accountable by incorporating our deepest convictions about war, poverty, racism, abortion, capital punishment, and other moral issues into our nation's public life. Who can change the political wind? Only we can.
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American Creation
by Joseph J. Ellis
He explains how the idea of a strong federal government, championed by Washington, was eventually embraced by the American people, the majority of whom had to be won over, as they feared an absolute power reminiscent of the British Empire. And he details the emergence of the two-party system - then a political novelty - which today stands as the founders' most enduring legacy." "But Ellis is equally incisive about their failures, and he makes clear how their inability to abolish slavery and to reach a just settlement with the Native Americans has played an equally important role in shaping our national character."--BOOK JACKET.
