Book · 2017 · National characteristics, american
Fantasyland
Why people recommend it
Fantasyland by Kurt Andersen is a cultural history examining how magical thinking, pseudoscience, and a rejection of objective reality became central to the American character. On the episode Is It Okay to Hate Highbrow Culture of the podcast No Stupid Questions, which aired on January 12, 2023, Stephen Dubner discussed Kurt Andersen and his body of work. While talking about American culture and beliefs, Stephen Dubner noted that Kurt Andersen had written a couple of really good books on this particular topic, specifically mentioning Fantasyland alongside Evil Geniuses. Stephen Dubner brought up the book to illustrate broader themes regarding the evolution of American thought and cultural attitudes, pointing to Andersen's insightful analysis of how societal norms and beliefs have shifted over time. Listeners tuning into the conversation gained exposure to Andersen's perspective on the deep roots of fantasy and delusion in the national identity, as presented through Dubner's commentary on the No Stupid Questions podcast during their exploration of intellectual and cultural trends in the United States today.
Who recommended it
- Stephen Dubner Recommended
Stephen Dubner — 1 mention
“Kurt Anderson has written a couple really good books on this topic one is called Evil Geniuses and the other was called Fantasyland”