Description
Book SynopsisThe way we live, work, and die-alone and with other Americans-have so many hidden layers that we might as well say that there are two Americas: one we think we know and the other virtually unknown to us. Such a thought is compelling enough to motivate a sociologist to start writing down what he thinks about the hidden America. Then, what emerges from this effort is a picture of America that is at once so familiar and so alien. It is the alien part of America that troubles us, that scares us, and that pushes us to escape into louder, more colorful, and more pleasant unreality. As our escapism becomes more urgent each day, so does its testimony to the emptiness and loneliness of our solitary existence. Huer discusses this alien part of America in American Paradise.
Trade Review…it forces the reader…to examine all of his of her shortcomings and false truths that are constantly placed in our minds by society, ourselves, the media. American Paradise is effective because it is real. All of the irony and contradictions that swirl around us everyday…are clearly identified in the text so that an honest, hard look can be taken not only on society, but on the individual reading it. -- Stephanie D. Lee
[Huer] is a very effective social critic….He only wants to open our eyes to the path our society is heading and with that purpose in mind, he wholeheartedly accomplishes his goal. -- Robin Koch
American Paradise describes…what America is today and where she will be tomorrow. -- Robin Addison
[Huer] forces the readers to hold up a mirror to themselves and begin asking questions about the society in which we live. -- Jolene Beliecki
Stunning, provocative, wonderfully appropriate in [its] aptly compressed expression of the central, radical, profoundly original, and brilliant themes developed…. Will stand the test of time as magisterial monuments of the sociological imagination. -- Richard Dowling, American History and English teacher at University Of Maryland, University College
[Huer's] approach is successful in achieving the goal of presenting to us the reality from which we constantly escape by tearing down the back drop of American society, and forcing reality upon us. It is harsh and unpleasant, and forces us to think… -- Jared Reyes
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction. Welcome to American Paradise Chapter 2 Chapter 1. The Great American Temptation Chapter 3 Chapter 2. The Axis of Evil Temptation Chapter 4 Chapter 3. Merchants of Death Chapter 5 Chapter 4. Paradise Up Close Chapter 6 Chapter 5. What America Has Become Chapter 7 Chapter 6. Life, Liberty, and Happiness Chapter 8 Chapter 7. Freedom's Progress Chapter 9 Chapter 8. The Incredibly Shrinking Nation Chapter 10 Chapter 9. Lifestyle and Other Oddities Chapter 11 Chapter 10. Individualism and Supreme Justice Chapter 12 Chapter 11. The Americanization of Love Chapter 13 Chapter 12. Paradise Found Chapter 14 Chapter 13. The Perfect State Chapter 15 Chapter 14. A Phantom Nation Chapter 16 Chapter 15. Weapons of Mass Distraction Chapter 17 Chapter 16. All That Glitters Chapter 18 Chapter 17. More Economic Oddities Chapter 19 Chapter 18. What Could Have Been Chapter 20 Chapter 19. Paradise Lost, Again Chapter 21 Chapter 20. Living and Dying by the Sword Chapter 22 Bibliography
