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The collection gathers sharp, opinionated essays that examine American cultural life and intellectual habits, addressing topics such as national tradition, religion, marriage and monogamy, politics, justice, art and criticism, and human nature. The author offers polemic and satirical reflections on democratic institutions, aesthetic standards, moral attitudes, and popular psychology, combining close readings of contemporary literature with broader theorizing. Sections move between focused criticism of public institutions and informal meditations on personal and social behavior, repeatedly returning to concerns about authenticity, hypocrisy, and the criteria by which taste and virtue are judged.
Page 15: “surburban pastors” changed to “suburban pastors”
Page 123: “clinical themometer” changed to “clinical thermometer”
Page 135: “basicly almost indistinguishable” changed to “basically almost indistinguishable”
Page 180: “criminal statues” changed to “criminal statutes”
Page 282: “the Altantic” changed to “the Atlantic”
Page 295: “Stationary and Supplies” changed to “Stationery and Supplies”
In the index, “Poe, Edgar Allen” changed to “Poe, Edgar Allan”