book review: why we hate us

I am about a chapter away from finishing one of the best books I have read in a long time.

An excerpt: The environment for character education today is rotten. The times are not exactly ripe for etiquette, either. The screaming lack of both virtues contributes enormously to the “why we hate us” saga. We hate weasels and we hate rude people. We should. But – big but – when it comes to character and manners we are obliged to again consider not just what we think of the world, but what we contribute to it. Do we, in public, exhibit good character? Do we have good manners?

I think you can tell by my writing, that I am disheartened by the lack of community. I do not believe in over-consumerism and corportacracy. I get depressed when I see teenagers dressing and speaking inappropriately. I think media has caused issues that will take longer than over night to fix. I do not value a government that lies to us, nor a government that has spends more time campaigning than passing worthwhile legislation.

If any of that resonates with you, then I think you will enjoy this book.

You can find it on Amazon: Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium, by Dick Meyer.

A very quick read, and well worth it!

quote of the day

“For the narcissist, the world is a mirror, whereas the rugged individual saw it as an empty wilderness to be shaped to his own design,” Lasch wrote. There is nothing new to be seen in a mirror. Narcissists are obsessed with pictures of themselves. They care mostly about how they appear to others and, after that, how they feel. The cruel irony is that this self-centeredness is actually the ultimate form of dependence; the narcissist’s pleasure and peace depend on appearances and what others think. So they rely on building the biggest McMansion on the block, wearing the biggest diamonds, blasting the loudest music, or being the most politically correct person in town. This helps create the public environment we hate.”

excerpt from Why We Hate Us by Dick Meyer