America's Mid-Life Crisis - 9781931930079

Weaver (founder and executive director, Intercultural Management Institute) and Mendelson (managing editor, The Middle East Journal) describe what they see as the mainstream national culture of the United States, historically examining its facets as it historically matured into adulthood by the period following the Vietnam War. Along the way they discuss such topics as immigration and integration, race and ethnic divisions, the values of exceptionalism and self-reliance, the "Just Do It!" ethos, public schools and civic culture, and foreign policy. They suggest that the September 11th, 2001 attacks tipped the United States into a mid-life crisis, but hope that the country will come through it by soberly reflecting on its place in the world and by re-embracing its core civic values. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)