Hawkishness: John Steinbeck's Vietnam journalism -- Bile: Hunter S. Thompson's America -- Futility: James Baldwin's The evidence of things not seen -- Resentment: J. D. Vance's Hillbilly elegy -- Depression: David Sedaris, Donald Trump, and the divided nation -- Conclusion: The nation needs reading.
Summary:
"When Americans describe their compatriots, the members of their "imagined community" who share their heritage, values, and aspirations, who exactly are they talking about? This is the urgent question that Douglas Dowland asks in We, Us, and Them. In search of answers, he turns to narratives of American nationhood written since the Vietnam War-stories in which the ostensibly strong state of the Union has been turned increasingly into an America of us versus them. Dowland explores how a range of writers across the political spectrum, including Hunter S. Thompson, James Baldwin, and J. D. Vance, articulate a particular vision of America with such strong conviction that they undermine the unity of the country they claim to extol. We, Us, and Them pinpoints moments in which criticism leads to cynicism, rage leads to apathy, and a broad vision narrows"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.