{"title":"Kurt Andersen","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the thought-provoking works of \u003cem\u003eKurt Andersen\u003c\/em\u003e, an esteemed author renowned for his insightful exploration of contemporary society. With a keen eye for detail and a unique narrative style, Andersen's books delve into the intricacies of history and its impact on modern life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003e“Evil Geniuses”\u003c\/strong\u003e, Andersen meticulously unravels the systemic changes that have reshaped the socio-economic landscape, offering readers a profound understanding of the forces driving inequality and transformation. This book is a must-read for those interested in learning how history influences present-day economic and cultural dynamics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis other notable work, \u003cstrong\u003e“Fantasyland”\u003c\/strong\u003e, takes readers on a captivating journey through America’s penchant for illusion and belief over fact. This exploration provides an engaging insight into how centuries of fantastical thinking have moulded the nation’s current reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhether you are an enthusiast of \u003cem\u003eEducation \u0026amp; Reference\u003c\/em\u003e or captivated by \u003cem\u003eHistory \u0026amp; Military\u003c\/em\u003e themes, Kurt Andersen’s books offer a rich tapestry of ideas that engage, inform, and challenge readers’ perceptions.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"fantasyland","title":"Fantasyland","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFantasyland\u003c\/i\u003e by Kurt Andersen takes readers on a fascinating and eye-opening journey through the history of America's unique propensity for embracing fantasy over reality. Spanning five centuries, Andersen meticulously uncovers how the nation’s DNA has been infused with a love for make-believe, and how this obsession has led to the current era where objective facts are often overshadowed by personal beliefs and wild speculation. Without delving into spoilers, readers will explore an era-by-era examination of the mingling of fact and fiction, starting from the Pilgrim Fathers to the very present climate inundated with fake news and \"alternative facts.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe New York Times bestseller delves deep into how America's foundation was built upon the ideals of creating one's own reality—a freedom that still reverberates through society today. From the outset, when renegades sought a new world where they could forge their own truths, to modern-day, where opinion frequently supersedes fact, Andersen highlights the evolution of this phenomenon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis enthralling narrative traces how fantastical thinking evolved and persisted through American history, leading to the post-truth society we experience today. Andersen explores the notion that fantasy is the USA's primary product, allowing individuals the liberty to invent and believe in their own version of the truth, with little to no objective regulation. This mindset, Andersen argues, is both a cultural heritage and a perilous pattern of thought that shapes America’s current reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith a captivating and critical look, \u003ci\u003eFantasyland\u003c\/i\u003e covers a vast array of subjects and figures that have contributed to this cultural phenomenon. From Salem's witch trials to the rise of Scientology, Andersen connects the dots, showing how America's obsession with myth and illusion is manifest in various forms and sectors of society. He navigates through a meticulous tapestry of true believers and delusional factions including Mormons, Flat-Earthers, New Age quacks, and anti-vaxxers, to name but a few. The journey also casts a spotlight on the modern-day conspiracies and paranoia surrounding government mistrust and pseudoscience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eFantasyland\u003c\/i\u003e demonstrates with striking clarity how the lines between reality and illusion have become dangerously blurred. Andersen presents a compelling narrative that examines the show's grandmasters, from P.T. Barnum to Donald Trump, exposing how showmanship and hucksterism have been integral in crafting America's post-factual world. This book is not just a history lesson, but a critical examination of the current societal landscape, urging readers to reflect on the implications of living in a world where fantasy often trumps reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone looking to understand the roots of America’s current socio-political climate, and the continued decline of factual discourse, Kurt Andersen’s \u003ci\u003eFantasyland\u003c\/i\u003e offers an essential and riveting analysis. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of discernment and the stark consequences of allowing personal fantasies to overshadow objective truths.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45695339659500,"sku":"9781785038679","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781785038679.jpg?v=1725625940"},{"product_id":"evil-geniuses-by-kurt-andersen-9781529108101","title":"Evil Geniuses","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA deep dive into how big business took over American politics, from the critically acclaimed author of \u003ci\u003eFantasyland\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHow an elite cabal rewrote the American dream for their gain - and left the rest of the world behind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEvil Geniuses\u003c\/i\u003e is the secret history of how, over the last half-century, from even before Ronald Reagan through Donald Trump, America has sharply swerved away from its dream of progress for the many to a system of unfettered profit and self-interest for the few.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAs the social liberation of the 1960s finally ended in the chaos of Vietnam and Watergate, a cabal of rich industrialists, business chiefs, wide-eyed libertarians and right-wing economic radicals were waiting, determined to claw back everything they saw as rightfully theirs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLargely out of sight, they rapidly built and funded a new empire of think tanks, academic institutions and professional organisations, lobbying and political groups, using them to transform politics, media, finance, the legal system and US laws to reinvent and control the political economy. A throwback to the robber barons of a century earlier, they sold the remade system to the people as a nostalgic return to traditional American values. Within a decade, America's flourishing forward-thinking vision was incarcerated by the unchecked financial accumulation and political power of the super-rich.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow, the moneymen are running the show.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this hugely entertaining and deeply researched cultural and economic exposé, New York Times bestselling author Kurt Andersen maps the rich history of intricate networks, unlikely connections, and dark truths which are controlling a nation, revealing how on earth America got to where it is now - and what it might do to win its progressive future back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46354757746924,"sku":"9781529108101","price":24.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/11502733482732.jpg?v=1744288150"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/kurt-andersen.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}