A Furious Hunger: America in the 21st Century

At the end of the 20th century, the United States—the most powerful nation on earth—is driven by quasi-religious patriotism and by conspicuous materialism. At once restless and violent, creative and democratic, it is also, at another level, deeply unsure of itself. Bruce Grant’s engrossing text reveals the core of America’s greatness—and its vulnerability. Americans believe that their country is blessed and exceptional—blessed by God and nature, exceptional because of their management of the twin icons, democracy and capitalism. But have Americans separated themselves too much from the rest of the world? Can they meet the challenge of the 21st century, which is to provide true global leadership? A Furious Hunger is a penetrating exploration of America’s way of life, its people, its history, its rhetoric, its government and politics, and its arts and popular culture. The author’s “modest intention” is to try to understand the United States better, not as the leader of the Western world, but as itself. Bruce Grant writes critically and sympathetically of the country and the people he has visited and observed for more than 30 years. Clever and subtle, his writing uncovers the American way through conversations, visual images, incisive historical analysis, and astute personal recollections. This original and challenging book will interest readers who welcome America’s influence on our lives as well as those who resist it.