Cynicism and the evolution of the American dream - Caldwell, Wilber W. (Potomac Books, Inc., 2006)
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002
Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-185) and index
Cynicism and the American Dream -- The Face of the American Cynic -- Toward a Definition of Cynicism -- The American Dream -- The Evolution of the American Dream and the Changing Face of Cynicism in America -- The Origins of the American Dream, 1492-1800 -- The Two Faces of the American Dream, 1800-1865 -- The Plunder of the American Dream, 1865-1929 -- The Selling of the American Dream, 1929-1970 -- The American Dream and Cynicism in American Today -- The Causes of Cynicism in America -- The Effects of Cynicism in America -- A New American Dream -- A Cure for Cynicism in America
"Today we face America's most terrifying enemy ever: an indigenous insurgent army made up of millions of our own citizens. We snipe at each other from behind impregnable barricades of cynicism, mocking efforts to move ahead and scoffing at once-cherished national ideals. Diverse and resourceful warriors, we wield our cynicism as both sword and shield. "We have met the enemy, and they are us."" "Still, what does cynicism really mean? The term is tossed about so carelessly these days that it may soon cease to have meaning at all. Cynicism and the Evolution of the American Dream defines the unique nature of American cynicism and traces its historical roots. It looks into its present causes and the many ways cynicism manifests itself, shaping all aspects of modern American life. Wilber W. Caldwell asserts that the disturbing growth of cynicism in America today results from a recent shift in the American Dream, the structure that holds the country together. Like all national dreams, the American Dream has mirrored our national experience and our collective character, as well as reflected our national mood, which has run a parallel course all the way from idealism through realism and skepticism to cynicism. Drawing on the disciplines of history, sociology, and philosophy, Cynicism and the Evolution of the American Dream will appeal to a broad audience of educated readers and offer hope for those who would eradicate such an insidious cancer."--Jacket