I'm eager to read the new book, Fantasyland, by Kurt Andersen

[eleny]

He was interviewed by Lawrence O'D's on the show last night. He pointed out that he was researching it before Trump declared his candidacy. Sounds like it's a retrospective of the 500 years of America and winds up providing us an insight into how Trump could happen. Andersen said that, being a grifter, Trump recognized that it was his time. Sounds like Andersen was on to something.

Here's the blurb from the description over at Amazon
"A razor-sharp thinker offers a new understanding of our post-truth world and explains the American instinct to believe in make-believe, from the Pilgrims to P. T. Barnum to Disneyland to zealots of every stripe . . . to Donald Trump."

[Dem2]

1. I've been thinking about this all day

Last edited Wed Sep 6, 2017, 05:32 PM - Edit history (1)

It also gets into (from the interview) the internet and how it has allowed the opinions of basement dwellers to be heard (and, unfortunately, believed by the gullible.)

[moondust]

4. Me too.

Looked it up on Amazon: Kindle version is $14.95.

One thing that troubles me is that "basement dwellers" and anybody else can now carry on public smear campaigns not just against public figures but anybody they hate: neighbors, classmates, ex-girlfriends and ex-boyfriends, bosses, etc. I fear it could do a lot of harm to the innocent victims of basement propagandists and there may not be any good way to disprove false claims about private individuals.

[Dem2]

11. That quote exactly

The internet has changed things in ways that we couldn't predict and I have no idea how long before things stabilize again or if people will ever come back to their senses...

[eleny]

8. I recall that LO'D said that the basement dwellers now feel that they aren't alone

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. He was the guest on NPR radio show 1A today. Fascinating.

[eleny]

3. I'll have to go find the audio

Thanks for the word.

I'm on the list at the library but am thinking that I don't want to wait. So I might go for the Kindle version.

Btw, he has a radio show that's also a podcast, Studio 360 With Kurt Andersen.

[leftstreet]

5. This doesn't speak to the reality of voter turnout

I hate it when authors and pundits claim "AMERICA VOTED FOR TRUMP" and go on to analyze how Trump happened because "Americans" were manipulated, were stupid, etc

Half the eligible voters didn't vote

[TeamPooka]

7. which is why we need to focus efforts on new voter registration and GOTV efforts.

Forget converting conservatives and GOPers.
We just need to mine and make more progressive voters who are out there and not voting.

[eleny]

9. There's truth in what you say

But Andersen was researching his notion before Trump announced his candidacy. So it isn't all about Trump's rise. Andersen's ideas about Americans might help to understand why Trump rose to prominence (albeit the Russian interference).

I recall how Trump supposedly seeded his earliest rally crowds with paid attendees. Sounds to me like the manipulation of a populace that Trump thinks is stupid. He might just be like Barnum who knew that a new sucker was born every day. Trump's a grifter like all the grifters. He recognizes what people want and offers his brand of snake oil that's a formula similar to all the rest. So Andersen may be on to something when he applied his ideas about America to Trump's success.

At this point my only beef with Andersen might be that his premise about America might apply to people in general. Humanity seems to enjoy suspending reality now and then no matter where we live.

[Gothmog]

6. I also saw the Last Word interview on this book

This book does look interesting

[Blindingly apparent]

10. I was prepared to buy it last night on audiobook but

Didn't find it. Waiting anxiously for it

[maxsolomon]

12. Trump also recognized a flaw in the American system

there is nothing to stop you from flat out lying right in people's faces and daring them to do something about it.

that's his "genius": shameless, belligerent, transparent, baldfaced lies.