Stock image for illustration purposes only - book cover, edition or condition may vary.
Everybody Knows
William Chaloupka
€ 37.70
FREE Delivery in Ireland
Description for Everybody Knows
Paperback. Num Pages: 240 pages. BIC Classification: JP. Category: (G) General (US: Trade). Dimension: 222 x 137 x 8. Weight in Grams: 322.
A witty take on what’s wrong--and right--with cynicism today, now in paperback!
We are now living in the midst of the most cynical era in American history. Disaffection from government institutions is at an all-time high. Ordinary citizens perceive political leaders to be more manipulative and jaded than ever. Skepticism pervades our cultural and social attitudes and interactions, and is prominently featured in the films we see, the books we read, and the media we experience. In this biting and controversial analysis, William Chaloupka scrutinizes the cynicism that is our common condition, examining both its uses in the politics of backlash ... Read more
Everybody Knows traces cynicism from its classical origins but emphasizes its recent emergence in American culture and politics, following a trajectory from H. L. Mencken to Richard Nixon to Bill Clinton to Fargo. Cutting neatly across ideological divisions, Chaloupka discusses the ways in which cynicism is rooted in all democratic politics and analyzes the role of the media-in particular, television news, political ads and speeches, and books such as E. J. Dionne’s Why Americans Hate Politics and William Bennett’s The Book of Virtues-in dissecting and encouraging cynicism.Chaloupka describes mass cynicism, which permeates popular culture; outsider cynicism, capable of cranky, even violent disruption; and the cynicism of those in power. He argues that those who issue broad pleas for civility or a renewal of community spirit usually misunderstand the cynicism they wish to treat. He also discusses the value of a cheeky, subversive “kynicism” to evoke the lively democratic practice American society must foster.Early reviews call Everybody Knows “original and compelling,” “pithy, engaging, and funny,” and “the best book on American politics in quite a while.” Sure to be widely read and debated, this entertaining book will inspire readers to take a new look at the cynicism prevalent in contemporary American society. Show LessProduct Details
Format
Paperback
Publication date
2001
Publisher
University of Minnesota Press United States
Number of pages
240
Condition
New
Number of Pages
264
Place of Publication
Minnesota, United States
ISBN
9780816633111
SKU
V9780816633111
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 15 to 20 working days
Ref
99-15
About William Chaloupka
William Chaloupka is professor of environmental studies at the University of Montana. His books include Knowing Nukes, also published by the University of Minnesota Press.
Reviews for Everybody Knows