Recommended: The Age of American Unreason

Susan Jacoby, who also authored Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism (2004) examines the cultural history of the past 40 or so years that has led America to its current anti-intellectualism, in which even supposedly well-educated politicians don't believe in evolution and climate change, despite an overwhelming scientific consensus worldwide on these issues. Recent Pew polls show an astounding level of ignorance about science among Americans (one in five still believe the sun revolves around the earth!!), and an almost complete lack of knowledge about history.

Some of this anti--intellectualism is driven by the fundamentalist religious right, but even in their own chosen area of expertise, the Bible, this group is amazingly ignorant.  According to the Pew survey about half think the Golden Rule is one of the ten commandments, and only 45% can name the four Gospels.

This is a disturbing book to read -- one fears for the future of the nation.  But it is important, nevertheless, to understand the roots of this problem, and the effect it is having on our children.