I’m pleased to report that I have a new piece in today’s edition of Current, reviewing New York Times economics reporter David Leonhardt’s new book The Once and Shining Future. The story Leonhardt tells is a familiar one, whose master narrative goes like this: Once upon a time, there was a Great Depression, which threatened not only democracy itself, but its most cherished byproduct: the American Dream—understood as the hope for a better life, usually defined in economic terms. Then the New Deal came along and ushered in a period of prosperity that made the American Dream the American Expectation. (And, as such the basis of legitimate protest when it wasn’t met.) But the rise of neoliberal economics eroded the foundations of this beautiful Dream, which is now widely perceived as dead. Leonhardt renders this tale with verve and some revealing character sketches. But as I also argue, there are some misplaced assumptions in this version of the myth, beginning with its conflation with economics. (As some of you may know, I am the author of The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation, which, two decades after it was published remains by far my most successful book.)
Next week, I resume my series of posts about the role of faith in American life — especially for those who don’t think of themselves as religious. I hope you’ll be along for that stretch of the ride. —Jim
P.S. One other thing: I have another project on the horizon: a third, revised and updated, edition of my 1997 book Born in the U.S.A: Bruce Sringsteen in American Life. It will be published next month. It carries my study of Srpingsteen’s work into th 2020s.