Book Review Mondays

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The decline of men: How the American male is tuning out, giving up, and flipping off his future
by Guy Garcia

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

In 300 pages, using statistics, examples, and his own experience, Guy Garcia, a staff writer at TIME Magazine for 13 years, where he covered business, international and arts, and entertainment, supports the thesis that “too many guys are slacking off and opting out of their manly obligations, producing an entire generation of men who are ditching their own potential and failing the moms, wives, and girlfriends who love them” (from the front jacket). There is no question that Garcia knows how to write because this is a well-written, informative, and entertaining book. Whether or not he makes his case successfully is up to the reader, however, if you want an enjoyable book that supports a point that I completely agree with (and have written essays about as well), this is a book you will find interesting.

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Why We Hate Us: American Discontent in the New Millennium
by Dick Meyer

Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.

Meyer, according to the back, inside section of the book’s cover, “was a reporter, producer, online editor, and columnist at CBS News in Washington for more than twenty-three years. He is now the editorial director of digital media at National Public Radio”; thus, he has a perspective most people do not. His 252-page book is divided into nine chapters: 1) Land of the fake, 2) Early twenty-first century irritants, 3) America untied, 4) OmniMedia, 5) Phone people, phone places, 6) A civic war, 7) OmniMarketing, 8) The character gap, and 9) Authenticity, thoughtfulness, and many things. Upfront, I want you to know that I truly enjoyed this book, and I think Meyer has put his finger squarely upon a number of important concerns that support his contention: “There’s something rotten in the state of America. It is something phony, belligerent, and toxic in the culture” (p. ix). I realize that, for the most part, this is not an uplifting book, however, his statistics, personal examples, opinions, citations from others (as well as respectable newspapers, books, and magazines), make this book an entertaining, captivating, and thoroughly informative read. Meyer’s handle on popular culture, current “news” shows, various media, the Internet, and public opinion, and the way he synthesizes all that he knows is simply fascinating to experience. Here is a great mind a work. A good example of Meyer’s frank, open, readable, and ingratiating style is revealed in this paragraph about his mother:

“My mother wasn’t a shining star or moral rebel in that conformist world. She wasn’t a joiner or energetic do-gooder. Mom was shy and didn’t like parties and big groups very much. She wasn’t on the school board; she didn’t organize amazing volunteer projects, entertain passing political candidates, or have a passionate avocation. She wasn’t beloved by local orphans or widows. She truly and honestly didn’t try to keep up with the Joneses, and that was a deliberate choice. Her head wasn’t turned by what other people had or did. She didn’t strive for her children to achieve and lead trophy lives. She never found occasion to reinvent herself” (p. 63).

Because he is a good writer, draws from experiences, instances, and examples with which we can all identify, and delights in telling good stories, I highly recommend this book. You don’t have to be a Republican or Democrat, and you don’t even have to agree with his thesis (that we hate us), Meyer has simply put together a delightful book that all those interested in perspectives on our contemporary society will enjoy reading. He ends the book on a hopeful note, saying, “I believe and hope that there is a unity about why we hate us and that it might someday be channeled to shift the tone and direction of American public culture. Americans who seem at odds in so many ways share basic worries and hopes. This is obscured in the noise of politics, the flood of media, and the pace of everyday life. It has been further obscured by the relentless social change and stress of the past decades. Lacking deep community that can make change more tolerable, we find it difficult to walk in another’s skin. Americans feel attacked and have hunkered down. We emphasize differences and diversity, not a deeper unity. That is a paradox of pluralism. That’s the way it is. It is not the way it must be” (p. 252).

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Through our reading, researching, and writing, And Then Some Publishing (and our extended family of readers) mine volumes of books representing a wide variety of tastes. We use the books in our writing, test and try suggested techniques, and we read for enjoyment as well. We wouldn't spend the time reviewing the books if we didn't get something out of it. Read more reviews on other fantastic books at our BookWorksRules.com website.