Mordant, incisive, taking no prisoners Lewis Lapham dissects an introverted and self-questioning America, a society groping about in the dark trying to understand its own identity in the absence of the “Evil Empire.“ “Lapham displays a freshness of insight that is luminous... An exhilarating point of view in an age of conformity.” — 1995 National Magazine Award for Essays and Criticism “A wonderful book.” — New York Times Book Review “Lapham's portraits of his country are astute and his dry wit as sharp as a knife.” — Times “Lapham refuses to talk down to his audience, much less cozy up to its ignorance and prejudices ... Nor will he surrender a jot of his wit, erudition and style.” — Los Angeles Times “Few writers match Lapham's witty, entertaining style, and his insight into the issues of the period. Entertaining reading: strongly recommended.” — Library Journal Lewis H. Lapham, editor of Harper's Magazine, has been described by Vanity Fair as a journalist “in the mold of Mencken and Twain“. His previous books include Money and Class in America, The Wish for Kings, Fortune's Child and Imperial Masquerade. He lives in New York City.	Publication Cloth: Oct. 1995 Paper: Nov. 1996 384 pages Paper 1 85984 162 0 £14.00 / $18