164:
America was created by true believers and passionate dreamers, by hucksters and their suckers—which over the course of four centuries has made us susceptible to fantasy...In other words: mix epic individualism with extreme religion; mix show business with everything else; let all that steep and
723:. Celebrity obsession grew even greater. There was a glut of theming: restaurants, malls, and architecture. State lotteries encouraged magical thinking. Erotica and pornography became commonplace, and there was a vast increase in hair coloring and cosmetic surgery.
898:. The internet and world wide web permitted all manner of ideas to bypass the traditional gatekeepers of information dissemination. By discrediting authority and its validating institutions, people have been taught that nothing can be trusted.
874:
enabled every person access to every conceivable idea and interest, connecting them to like-minded people. "Delusional ideas and magical thinking flood from the private sphere into the public, become so pervasive and deeply rooted, so
29:
165:
simmer for a few centuries; run it through the anything-goes 1960s and the
Internet age; the result is the America we inhabit today, where reality and fantasy are weirdly and dangerously blurred and commingled.
1075:
as both compelling and entertaining, and concludes, "Not everyone will like what
Andersen has to say, but he has written a fine work of history that convincingly explains how we got to where we are today." In
137:
bestseller lists (hardcover non-fiction). Andersen has said that he had been thinking about the topic of
Americans becoming "too accommodating to belief" for several years, but that the derisive term "
1111:
the "most irritating book I read this year" in 2017, calling it "more fleeting and glib than helpful and revealing", and takes exception to what he considers
Andersen's "contempt for people of faith".
160:
throughout the country's history to illustrate how the state of the nation today is an extension of fundamental
American characteristics. Andersen describes the overall arc of the book:
852:
859:. Cable TV showed documentaries on mermaids, zombies, ghosts, and alien abductions. Home-schooling doubled, mostly because of religious beliefs. Interest in survivalism and
458:
became more prevalent, bringing a greater amount of fiction into people's lives. There was an explosion in advertising and modern celebrity culture. The spread of suburbia (
389:
was "a rationalist's good-riddance epitaph for the last vestiges of
America's ridiculous magical-thinking 1800s"; debunking of spiritualism was a popular pastime; the
178:
1052:
and economic magical thinking. Extreme skepticism of the press is widespread as people lose immunity to false information. Andersen then analyzes the election of
967:
325:). Steam-powered presses spawned large-circulation newspapers and magazines with loose standards of accuracy and truth for both advertising and reporting (
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514:
The 1960s and '70s were a time when bits of everyday life were being replaced with bits of everyday fiction, and there was a veritable explosion of
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1158:
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On the other side, there were brief conspiracy panics (against
Germans and then against Communists which then edged into anti-Semitism, with
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The 19th century saw a mythologizing of the country's founding and founders, and a proliferation of religious sects including;
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within the greater context of
America's descent into a mindset in which facts are relative and there is no shared reality.
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The strange had become unremarkable and the amazing had become ubiquitous. Make-believe became part of ordinary life.
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was released; an
African American show that recreated an idealized version of slave life toured the country; and the
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contends that the earliest
European settlers in what would become the United States were gold-crazed adventurers (
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encouraged free thinking and finding one's own truth. The U.S. was fascinated with the spiritual adventures of
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offers a clear, persuasive historical framework" and calls the prose "lucid, supple, and powered by paradox".
855:
funded research into areas such as homeopathy and long-distance spiritual healing. There was an expansion of
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series all spoke to a growing fascination with the Apocalypse. School districts proposed the teaching of
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462:) provided a bucolic fantasy. Other developments that encouraged magical thinking were television;
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helped launch a new explosion in conspiracy theories. Both fundamentalist and counterculture
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1004:'s radio show is syndicated nationally. Fundamentalist Christianity is amplified in the
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738:. Even more extreme forms of cosmetic surgery became common. Casinos spread outside of
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785:. New conspiracy theories took hold, and there was renewed interest in occultism,
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contends that two changes in American society led to modern tipping points: the
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Part VI: The Problem with Fantasyland: From the 1980s to the Present and Beyond
1317:
Lozada, Carlos (September 24, 2017). "Is Trump mentally ill? Or is America?".
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became popular. Fuzzing the line between reality and magical thinking were
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admires how Andersen weaves historical threads that help make sense of the
97:
991:
The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future
727:
Part V: Fantasyland Scales: From the 1980s Through the Turn of the Century
944:
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People could escape their mundane lives in living history theme parks,
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Reality TV was ubiquitous and there was a huge jump in popularity of
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with its emphasis on freedom of thought "liberated people to believe
694:), and a wider spread of science fiction and fantasy. Attention to
1302:
Lozada, Carlos (November 19, 2017). "My Memorable books of 2017".
1099:, Michael Upchurch criticizes the lack of bibliography, but says "
834:
368:
390:
339:
Hamlin's Wizard Oil Company and Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company
1020:
enters the political conversation. There is a greater push for
1005:
549:
585:
Against Method: Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge
1090:, but points out that he "goes for wide rather than deep."
269:, and end-of-world prophecies. Occult beliefs, such as the
1268:
Rosin, Hannah (September 10, 2017). "National Delusions".
1249:
Fritze, R. (January 2018). "Andersen, Kurt. Fantasyland".
305:. Andersen discusses the "get rich quick" idealism of the
22:
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire; A 500-Year History
1203:"'Fantasyland' author fears loss of shared facts in U.S."
1131:"Alice Water's Grilled Cheese Is Not Like Yours and Mine"
189:). Part I covers iconoclastic religious figures such as;
114:
Fantasyland: How America Went Haywire; A 500-Year History
853:
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
156:
is organized into six sections, detailing the spread of
793:
were launched and there was a growth of evangelicals.
451:. Movies and the fantasy-industrial complex (example:
353:
Part III: A Long Arc Bending Toward Reason: 1900–1960
141:" was "a wake-up call" that motivated him to write
129:bestseller list at number 3 and at number 5 on the
92:
80:
72:
64:
56:
48:
38:
1129:
754:, and fantasy camps for adults. The country had a
1159:"Washington Post bestsellers: September 17, 2017"
796:Approaching Hoofbeats: Horsemen of the Apocalypse
423:Fundamentalism in religion grew in popularity:
317:grew in popularity, as did pastoral fantasies (
162:
1251:CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
257:. Additional religious extremes included the
1026:opposition to any gun restrictions by the NRA
913:. There was a vast increase in the number of
821:. There was a growing increase in beliefs in
742:to nearly every state. Escapists could enjoy
313:. Self-serving fictions on both sides of the
8:
1201:Borrelli, Christopher (September 12, 2017).
506:; and psychotropic drugs and tranquilizers.
329:). Fantastical entertainments were spawned:
229:Part II: United States of Amazing: The 1800s
21:
170:Part I: The Conjuring of America: 1517–1789
117:is an American non-fiction book written by
1188:The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Washington)
901:During these decades, there was a rash of
27:
20:
1088:2016 United States presidential election
1044:. A fantasy-tinged suburb is created in
1283:Upchurch, Michael (November 12, 2017).
1186:"Best-sellers from Publishers Weekly".
1120:
591:The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
1128:Cowles, Gregory (September 15, 2017).
612:. Religious developments included the
367:found for mandatory vaccinations; the
273:, were common. The century introduced
950:Conspiracy theories spread about the
510:Part IV: Big Bang: The 1960s and '70s
7:
935:shared their stories, encouraged by
833:notions such as crystals, chakras,
403:The Protocols of the Elders of Zion
770:". Politics became entertainment.
594:encouraged skepticism of science.
217:. It points out that the emerging
14:
1190:. September 17, 2017. p. D7.
16:Non-fiction book by Kurt Andersen
357:Reason began fighting back: the
762:who frequently referred to the
628:Institute for Creation Research
567:The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
518:-based ideologies taking hold:
1079:the New York Times Book Review
977:Shariah: The Threat To America
931:to the wider public, and more
915:dissociative identity disorder
879:, that they affect everyone."
495:The Power of Positive Thinking
1:
917:diagnoses. People engaged in
777:was eliminated, ushering in
645:None Dare Call It Conspiracy
892:counterculture of the 1960s
630:, and the rerelease of the
1365:
1285:"Fake news is nothing new"
766:and was said to practice "
537:The Myth of Mental Illness
1339:Books about North America
639:None Dare Call It Treason
573:The Secret Life of Plants
524:Transcendental Meditation
364:Jacobson v. Massachusetts
295:Dr. Thomas' Eclectric Oil
261:, a huge camp meeting at
209:; and events such as the
26:
1028:. People participate in
907:Recovered-memory therapy
748:live action role-playing
656:, fantastical TV shows (
633:Scofield Reference Bible
579:Madness and Civilization
548:, mysticism, and magic;
181:) and God-crazed cults (
924:Communion: A True Story
756:first lady's astrologer
561:The Greening of America
299:William Rockefeller Sr.
139:reality-based community
121:and published in 2017.
1344:2017 non-fiction books
1048:. Investors engage in
1016:are more blatant. The
1012:becomes more popular.
712:Dungeons & Dragons
703:Civil War reenactments
449:Aimee Semple McPherson
387:The Stammering Century
377:laid a course for the
359:Pure Food and Drug Act
259:Second Great Awakening
167:
1050:irrational exuberance
1000:were wildly popular.
919:past life regressions
801:The Coming Antichrist
775:FCC fairness doctrine
454:The War of the Worlds
413:The Birth of a Nation
215:First Great Awakening
1208:. pp. 4–1, 4–6.
1167:. September 17, 2017
1046:Celebration, Florida
1014:Dog-whistle politics
911:Satanic ritual abuse
618:Charismatic movement
555:Chariots of the Gods
307:California Gold Rush
277:; medical fads, and
267:Restoration Movement
219:Age of Enlightenment
1319:The Washington Post
1304:The Washington Post
1164:The Washington Post
863:surged, leading to
760:Hollywood president
687:My Favorite Martian
345:and his travelling
323:Henry David Thoreau
223:anything whatsoever
23:
1349:Random House books
1291:. pp. N14-15.
1137:The New York Times
837:, and channeling.
819:intelligent design
805:Last Days Handbook
679:I Dream of Jeannie
400:becoming a fan of
311:westward expansion
211:Salem witch trials
1038:augmented reality
827:spiritual warfare
823:prosperity gospel
707:Renaissance fairs
659:The Twilight Zone
623:The Genesis Flood
509:
441:Holiness movement
406:). Nostalgia for
343:Buffalo Bill Cody
303:Brandreth's pills
255:Christian Science
203:George Whitefield
135:Publishers Weekly
110:
109:
73:Publication place
1356:
1323:
1322:
1314:
1308:
1307:
1299:
1293:
1292:
1289:The Boston Globe
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1265:
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1234:Andersen, Kurt.
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1219:Andersen, Kurt.
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1144:
1133:
1125:
929:alien abductions
909:raised fears of
865:American Redoubt
768:voodoo economics
663:The Outer Limits
610:Carlos Castaneda
408:Antebellum South
379:American Century
301:'s elixirs, and
207:Jonathan Edwards
158:magical thinking
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101:
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1117:
1062:
1034:virtual reality
960:Fusion paranoia
956:New World Order
903:child abduction
896:Information Age
885:
729:
667:The Flintstones
512:
478:Beat Generation
355:
335:American Museum
327:Great Moon Hoax
251:Mary Baker Eddy
231:
191:Anne Hutchinson
172:
151:
131:Washington Post
125:debuted on the
96:
34:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1270:New York Times
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1238:. p. 321.
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1211:
1193:
1178:
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1119:
1118:
1116:
1113:
1069:Choice Reviews
1061:
1058:
1010:Libertarianism
884:
881:
789:, and angels.
787:fringe science
752:fantasy sports
728:
725:
614:Jesus movement
602:Counterculture
511:
508:
504:orgone therapy
460:Broadacre City
429:Cyrus Scofield
383:Gilbert Seldes
354:
351:
230:
227:
195:Roger Williams
171:
168:
150:
147:
127:New York Times
108:
107:
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89:
87:978-1400067213
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1321:. p. B5.
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1306:. p. B8.
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1223:. p. 52.
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1105:Carlos Lozada
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779:Rush Limbaugh
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737:
736:pro-wrestling
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445:Father Divine
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420:was revived.
419:
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371:was founded;
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119:Kurt Andersen
116:
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100:.kurtandersen
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76:United States
75:
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59:
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51:
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43:Kurt Andersen
41:
37:
33:First edition
30:
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19:
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1181:
1169:. Retrieved
1162:
1153:
1141:. Retrieved
1135:
1123:
1108:
1100:
1096:Boston Globe
1094:
1092:
1077:
1072:
1063:
1054:Donald Trump
995:
989:
986:vaccinations
975:
949:
933:experiencers
922:
900:
887:
886:
876:
869:
842:
841:recommended
808:
804:
800:
794:
791:Megachurches
772:
733:
730:
710:
700:
683:Dark Shadows
657:
654:laugh tracks
643:
637:
631:
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596:
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583:
582:. The books
577:
571:
565:
559:
553:
552:and aliens,
542:Jane Roberts
535:
513:
500:Oral Roberts
493:
490:Billy Graham
471:
452:
437:Scopes Trial
433:Dwight Moody
425:Billy Sunday
422:
418:Ku Klux Klan
411:
401:
395:
393:was formed.
386:
372:
362:
361:was passed;
356:
346:
319:Daniel Boone
243:Joseph Smith
232:
222:
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130:
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104:/fantasyland
68:Random House
18:
1236:Fantasyland
1221:Fantasyland
1109:Fantasyland
1101:Fantasyland
1084:Hanna Rosin
1073:Fantasyland
1022:dominionism
997:The X-Files
888:Fantasyland
815:Creationism
810:Left Behind
744:Burning Man
717:fan fiction
671:The Jetsons
486:McCarthyism
482:Scientology
331:P.T. Barnum
271:Fox sisters
199:John Wesley
175:Fantasyland
154:Fantasyland
143:Fantasyland
123:Fantasyland
1333:Categories
1115:References
1002:Alex Jones
968:birtherism
952:Illuminati
941:talk radio
857:relativism
844:The Secret
764:apocalypse
709:; through
520:Alan Watts
468:Disneyland
398:Henry Ford
291:hydropathy
287:phrenology
281:peddlers;
275:homeopathy
263:Cane Ridge
1171:August 6,
1143:August 6,
1107:declared
1065:R. Fritze
1060:Reception
1018:alt-right
964:Agenda 21
721:Comic Con
675:Bewitched
598:Woodstock
464:Las Vegas
347:Wild West
315:Civil War
283:mesmerism
279:snake oil
179:Jamestown
65:Publisher
57:Published
945:Art Bell
927:brought
905:panics.
894:and the
872:Internet
861:preppers
783:Fox News
696:satanism
410:spread;
333:and his
245:and the
237:and the
213:and the
187:Pilgrims
183:Puritans
49:Language
1093:In the
1030:MMORPGs
937:UFOlogy
831:New Age
606:hippies
532:New Age
473:Playboy
247:Mormons
239:Shakers
235:Ann Lee
149:Summary
93:Website
52:English
1042:MilSim
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1173:2022
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1036:and
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972:9/11
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550:UFOs
391:ACLU
374:Time
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102:.com
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60:2017
1006:GOP
546:ESP
516:woo
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