Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent – An Unapologetic Polemic on Economic and Cultural Superiority

by David Harsanyi

Why should America try to be more like countries that are worse in nearly every way? 

Europe has been declining under the weight of its antiquated institutions, economic fatigue, moral anemia and cultural surrender. Yet American politicians, technocrats, academics, and pundits argue, with increasing popularity, that Americans should look across the Atlantic for solutions to the nation’s problems, including on issues like health care, the welfare state, immigration, and a bloated bureaucracy.

In Eurotrash, David Harsanyi argues we are looking in the wrong place. By every economic and societal measure, the United States is more tolerant than Europe. It is more welcoming of immigrants, but also far more successful at assimilating them. Minorities do far better in United States. Our economy is dominant. Only one European company appears in top 10 corporate powerhouses in the world and only seven in the top 50. Americans make up nearly half of the list.

Americans are far more charitable and happier than Europeans. Our slightly lower life expectancy and our slightly higher infant mortality rate are not a result of substandard care, but a statistical misunderstanding based on the fact we treat every life as one worth saving.

In this biting, fast-moving, and well-researched polemic, Harsanyi debunks prevailing notions about European supremacy and makes an unapologetic case for American exceptionalism, offering insight and reasoned arguments to counter current policy prescriptions.

Genres: Politics, American, History, Economics, Cultural, Nonfiction

315 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2021

Reviews

[Stefan Persson · Rating 1 out of 5]

don't know where to start...this joke of an author claimed europe is kills kids with down syndrome...

"agnostics are those ones who can't make up their mind"....the narrow mindedness of the author is bottomless.

the problems of europe listed may be true.....you loser nutbag of a writer - no one has suggested to import the flaws and problems of europe.....somethings done in europe is done right and can be copied.

mr author go back to read the bible....i'm sure you'll find answers to all problems there.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is giving 'I'm going to Europe on holiday'. Badly researched. Poorly argued. Just incorrect?

[Niz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An effective point-counterpoint structure. In essence this is “American Apologetics”

Well supported with specific data and analysis. All meticulously referenced.

Great source for data and information for defense against those, inside and outside America, who seek to denigrate this great nation.

[Danielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

The American exceptionalism reeking from this book makes me uncomfortable.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the more optimistic, less fatalistic follow up to The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Success- in that it tackles some of the same problems but doesn't actually assume that US is trapped in the same problems that Europe faces. And. Fuck the French, as a book.

[Kathy England · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our ancestors left Europe (and other places) for individual freedom, and there is no reason to give up that freedom today and start emulating Europe. This is a well researched and highly footnoted book about the differences between the United States and Europe today and why we do not and should not want to follow in Europe's footsteps. Freedom is not an outdated word. Yet.

[Jake Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Americans may be known as proud and uncouth—but this book helps you appreciate why that might not be such a bad thing.

[Jerrell Whitehead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read. Highly recommended.

[Richard Weaver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very one-sided argument, but it might be the side you haven’t heard yet

[Shoshana Stubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sobering and extremely well written. Everyone in the USA should read this.

[Paul Sand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I managed to squeeze in one more book in 2024, bringing me to 100 on my official list. I've done better in previous years; we'll see how 2025 goes.

Consumer note: Amazon has the hardcover for a mere $5.62 as I type. You could do worse.

The author, David Harsanyi, is one of my favorites. Here, he explains (basically) why the USA should ignore the constant whines of 'Europhiles' who wonder why we can't be more like that prosperous, cosmopolitan, ecological, left-wing continent across the pond.

Harsanyi can be credibly accused of cherry-picking his data and anecdotes, only mentioning the stuff that supports his thesis. Are European countries really the totalitarian hellholes he paints? Sure, they have serious problems. All countries do. Some problems worse than others? Yup, sure.

But he points a pretty damning picture, chapter by chapter, on how Europe is worse: a lot of people fall through the cracks of their ballyhooed healthcare systems; the continent is rife with ethnic and racial strife; their commitment to free expression is increasingly shrinking; demographically, they are headed for fiscal disaster as fewer young people pay for the pensions of more and more geezers; the European Union is an autocratic nightmare, out of democratic control; their "green" environmental policies are unsustainable. And more.

One country Harsanyi doesn't mention much: Switzerland. (Another one of my favorite writers, Kevin D. Williamson, is a 'Swissophile'.) Going through the index entries…

· Page 20: he admits the Swiss score high on the World Happiness Report; he attributes that to their wealth. (Other European countries report similar wealth-linked happiness.)

· Page 159: Switzerland is one of the countries where "faith is dying", but churches are propped up by taxation. (Wikipedia says this happens at the canton level,)

· On a related note, page 210 notes that a Swiss census revealed that religious mothers were bearing "nearly twice" as many children as non-religious mothers.

· Page 221: Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland, and there are quite a few Europeans who travel there to be killed. Honest.

· And, finally, page 225: Switzerland (similarly to most other European countries) kill the vast majority of unborn babies who test positive for Down syndrome.

As another measure, I looked at the latest Cato/Fraser Institute Human Freedom Index, ranking most of the world's countries, personal and economic liberty-wise (as of 2022). Make of this what you will: The USA is in 17th place in their rankings scoring worse than the European nations of Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Estonia, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, and Czechia. And we are tied with the United Kingdom.

As a mostly-libertarian guy, I'd say we could take some lessons from some European countries. While Harsanyi is telling an important story, he's not telling the whole story.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title can make it seem like it’s a rather harsh one sided critique of European policies…it isn’t. This book presents a comparison of people who view Europe through rose colored glasses and compares it to reality. Primary focus is on economic and social issues, there is thorough research and objective criteria discussed. Every time he is critical of liberal ideals he also calls out far right nationalism. I identify as liberal and I don’t feel this book was too harsh. A quick and provocative read.

[Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read and the author makes many good points. I don’t agree with all of the points he makes but he makes good effort to support them. Unfortunately, many of the positive aspects of the USA that he highlights when he wrote this and published it in 2021 continue to be eroded by the europhiles. Much to our detriment.

[Mike Carolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very balanced criticism of Europe. I liked how the author presented a staunchly anti-collectivist view while also rejecting the extreme right. The explanation that Anti-Semitism, racism, and fascism can arise when speech restrictions and social pressure force out moderate voices on the right was insightful.

[Aaron · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want to know what America would be like with decades of almost unchecked center-left or even leftist rule, look to Europe. This book has its flaws (some typos and infelicitous phrasing), but makes a compelling case against importing European policies.

[Farida El azab · Rating 1 out of 5]

soo bad
not based on any actual facts. The author has a certain agenda the conclusions are biased and not based on any actual facts i am so disappointed.

[Burt Schoeppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes some very interesting points. The Europhiles that Harsanyi refers to feels like the same people who use terms such as flyover country and deplorables.

[Jerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much has been working in America for so long. May it continue and revive. I thought this might book might be shrill and complaining, but was delightfully surprised.

[Marc A · Rating 4 out of 5]

The thesis of Eurotrash is that Europe is a continent in decline. Despite this, there is a growing sentiment among the American elite that the United States should adopt the ideas and institutions that are throttling Europe. The author, David Harsanyi, demonstrates in twelve chapters that Europe has little to offer that will lead to the betterment of the American people. Americans must reject failed European ideas, or they will inflict upon themselves the same problems troubling Europe.

Harsanyi begins by discussing the Scandinavian countries, often cited by the elites as models of benevolent socialism that the United States should emulate. Next, he discusses European style socialized medicine, which underperforms American medicine. Over the next several chapters, Harsanyi shows that America is a more tolerant society than Europe, and is much more successful at assimilating immigrants. New arrivals to the United States have access to the American Dream while in Europe they are forced into ethnic enclaves which operate outside of the mainstream.

Also discussed are the U.S. economy, the absence of free speech rights in Europe, the restive Muslim minorities in many European nations, the decreasing ability Europe to fund welfare states due to the aging population coupled with low birth rates, and the low value placed on human life in Europe.

Eurotrash is a succinct, well written book. It should present no difficulties to the average reader. If you want to see why the United States should not follow Europe's example, this book will explain.