112. Is It Okay to Hate Highbrow Culture?

In 'Evil Geniuses', Kurt Andersen chronicles the deliberate reengineering of the American economy and society since the 1960s by a confederacy of the rich, the right, and big business. The book explores how this shift, marked by the rise of neoliberalism and a culture of greed, has led to socially and morally catastrophic inequality. Andersen names key figures and institutions responsible for this change and offers a critical analysis of the current state of American politics and economy, while also suggesting a path forward to reclaim progressive values.

Twilight Eyes follows Slim Mackenzie, a 17-year-old on the run after killing his uncle, who possesses 'twilight eyes' that allow him to see evil beings called Goblins. Slim joins the Sombra Carnival and becomes embroiled in a plot to prevent a catastrophic event involving the carnival and a town infested with Goblins. The novel is divided into two parts, with the first half set in the carnival and the second half focusing on Slim and his allies investigating and battling the Goblins.

In "Fantasyland" untersucht Kurt Andersen die Geschichte der Vereinigten Staaten und die Rolle von Verschwörungstheorien und extremistischen Ideologien. Er argumentiert, dass die amerikanische Kultur seit ihrer Gründung von einer Tendenz zur Übersteigerung und zum Glauben an fantastische Geschichten geprägt ist. Das Buch beleuchtet die Entwicklung dieser Tendenz von den frühen Puritanern bis zur heutigen Zeit und zeigt, wie sie die amerikanische Politik, Wirtschaft und Kultur beeinflusst hat. Andersen analysiert die Ursachen dieser Tendenz und ihre Folgen für die amerikanische Gesellschaft. Das Buch ist eine kritische Auseinandersetzung mit der amerikanischen Identität und ihren Widersprüchen.

In this work, Mill provides a comprehensive explanation of utilitarianism, addressing its core principles and responding to various criticisms. He argues that happiness, understood as pleasure and the absence of pain, is the ultimate goal of ethical conduct. Mill distinguishes between higher and lower forms of happiness, preferring intellectual pleasures over bodily ones. He also discusses the compatibility of utilitarianism with individual rights and justice, arguing that justice has a utilitarian basis and that actions are right in proportion to their ability to promote general happiness.

New Moon is a romantic fantasy novel that continues the story of Bella Swan as she navigates her senior year of high school without Edward Cullen. After his departure, Bella finds solace in her friendship with Jacob Black, but her life becomes complicated when Jacob's true nature is revealed. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and self-discovery as Bella faces new challenges and dangers.