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Fantasyland
480 pages, 2018
How did we get here? In this sweeping, eloquent history of America, Kurt Andersen shows that what’s happening in our country today—this post-factual, “fake news” moment we’re all living through—is not something new, but rather the ultimate expression of our national character.
America was founded by wishful dreamers, magical thinkers, and true believers, by hucksters and their suckers. Fantasy is deeply embedded in our DNA. Over the course of five centuries—from the Salem witch trials to Scientology to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, from P. T. Barnum to Hollywood and the anything-goes, wild-and-crazy sixties, from conspiracy theories to our fetish for guns and obsession with extraterrestrials—our love of the fantastic has made America exceptional in a way that we've never fully acknowledged.
In Fantasyland, Kurt Andersen explores America's long-standing obsession with fantasy, from the Salem witch trials to Disneyland. He suggests that this obsession has shaped the nation's culture, politics, and even its reality. It's a fascinating look into how fantasy has become a fundamental part of the American identity.
Andersen digs into how the blurred lines between fantasy and reality can have serious consequences. He argues that when people start to believe in their fantasies as reality, it can lead to a distorted view of the world, which can impact everything from personal relationships to political decisions.
Fantasyland takes a critical look at how media has played a significant role in promoting fantasy. Andersen points out that the rise of the internet and social media has made it easier for people to live in their own fantasy worlds, often leading to the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Andersen explores the idea that fantasy can be a form of escape from the harsh realities of life. He suggests that while this can be harmless and even beneficial in moderation, an over-reliance on fantasy can lead to a disconnect from reality and an inability to deal with real-world problems.
In the end, Fantasyland encourages readers to take a step back and question their own beliefs and perceptions. Andersen emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and the need to distinguish between fantasy and reality. It's a wake-up call to see the world as it is, not as we wish it to be.
Quotes 5
Fantasyland is a book that will make you think. It's a deep dive into the American psyche and the 'fantasy industrial complex' that feeds it.
Stephen King - Horror Fiction AuthorKurt Andersen's Fantasyland is a brilliant and insightful exploration of the American propensity for confusing fact and fiction.
Neil Gaiman - Fantasy NovelistFantasyland is a must-read. It's a historical journey through America's obsession with fantasy, from the Salem witch trials to Disneyland.
Lawrence O'Donnell - Political AnalystFantasyland is a provocative book that reveals how our love for the fantastical has shaped our culture and politics.
Tom Brokaw - Television JournalistFantasyland is a fascinating exploration of the American obsession with the unreal and the extraordinary.
Margaret Atwood - Dystopian Novelist
