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The Imperial Middle: Why Americans Can't Think Straight About Class
Examines the concept of America as a classless society and reveals the social and political problems associated with the myth
264 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1990
About the author
Benjamin DeMott
33 books13 followersBenjamin Haile DeMott was an American English professor and cultural critic. The author of more than a dozen books, DeMott was known for his cultural criticism in popular magazines and a trilogy, The Imperial Middle: Why Americans Can't Think Straight about Class (1990), The Trouble with Friendship: Why Americans Can't Think Straight about Race (1995), and Killer Woman Blues: Why Americans Can't Think Straight about Gender (2000).
He wrote glowingly of Otis Redding, The Beatles' "Blue Jay Way" and "the supergorgeous Mantovanian Motown Sound", while mocking Marshall McLuhan and Mary Ellmann.
One of DeMott's last pieces was a scalding dissection of the 9/11 Commission Report that appeared in Harper's Magazine in 2004. His final piece, "Battling the Hard Man: Notes on Addiction to the Pornography of Violence", was published in Harper's in August 2007.
DeMott taught English at Amherst College for more than 40 years. He graduated from George Washington University (BA) and Harvard University (PHD).
DeMott was survived by Margaret, whom he married in 1946, and their four children.
He wrote glowingly of Otis Redding, The Beatles' "Blue Jay Way" and "the supergorgeous Mantovanian Motown Sound", while mocking Marshall McLuhan and Mary Ellmann.
One of DeMott's last pieces was a scalding dissection of the 9/11 Commission Report that appeared in Harper's Magazine in 2004. His final piece, "Battling the Hard Man: Notes on Addiction to the Pornography of Violence", was published in Harper's in August 2007.
DeMott taught English at Amherst College for more than 40 years. He graduated from George Washington University (BA) and Harvard University (PHD).
DeMott was survived by Margaret, whom he married in 1946, and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 15, 2016
I read this when it first came out in paperback almost 15 years ago, and its cogent exploration of some deep currents in American society made a strong impression. Some of the author's illustrations might be somewhat dated today, but the currents he identified run stronger than ever in 2016 -- and they've risen to the surface and crashed ashore with this presidential election. Can we learn to see past the American cultural myth of a "classless society" in time to save the republic? Only time will tell, but we might not have much time left....
January 13, 2008
I can't remember much about this book, just thinking I would agree with it and like it, and then being underwhelmed.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews