Renewing American Culture: The Pursuit of Happiness

by Scott T. Massey and Theodore Roosevelt Malloch

The rapid changes affecting America and the world have been led by economic and technological forces. The cultural dimensions of this change have been largely ignored in the process. Without... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0976404117
• ISBN13: 9780976404118
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: M & M Scrivener
• Length: 203 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A new old idea.

Since the dawn of the "computer age" the shelves of bookstores have been cluttered with books by cultural seers warning of the new day - global competition, the world is shrinking, the world is flat, etc. The advice usually doled out by these people is something along the lines of make sure the next generation studies computer science and learns to speak Chinese because we are all doomed - just look at the American's SAT scores... In this thoroughly refreshing book, authors Malloch and Massey make a very convincing case that America's greatest need is a renewed state of liberal education. Like other books addressing these types of issues they too agree that America and the World are on the cusp of a whole new age where technology and communications make for a different world and hence require a new kind of citizen. Distinguishing this book in my opinion is the author's argument that not only is the world changing because of the information age but that information and the way it is used is changing as well. Gone they argue are the days where the person with the most information has the advantage, because the very information that is being used is changing as fast as we can accumulate it - now comes the time when the advantage goes to who is best capable of creatively managing and using that information. The value of creativity, allowing one to flourish in a world of fluid information can best be met by people who understand metaphor as much bits and bytes. Liberal education they contend is the answer. A generation of Americans who learn how to learn is the answer to genuinely Renewing American Culture.

The humanities and the common good

Excellent book. An enduring human challenge is choosing to take action that will likely result in positive outcomes that will benefit almost everyone, or taking action that benefits the few at the expense of the many. In Renewing American Culture, The Pursuit of Happiness, we are reminded of the genius of the American Founding Fathers and the critical role that the humanities can play by providing a frame of reference that can guide us if we choose to work together in the pursuit of happiness for the common good of all mankind.

Reclaim Our Culture

This is a very interesting, well written book. I am thoroughly enjoying it. Modern culture challenges us with tough problems and the solutions are seldom obvious or easy. Renewing American Culture gives me a solid framework for thinking about these issues and offers great hope for the future. My only problem is that it would be a richer experience to read Renewing American Culture as part of a book club or group discussion. It's the kind of book that makes you want to talk about what you're reading.