Suicide of the West : How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics Is Destroying American Democracy

**“Epic and debate-shifting.” —David BrooksWith his trademark blend of political history, social science, economics, and pop culture, two-time NYT bestselling author, syndicated columnist, __National Review__ senior editor, and American Enterprise Institute fellow Jonah Goldberg makes the timely case that America and other democracies are in peril as they lose the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity. Instead we are surrendering to populism, nationalism and other forms of tribalism.** Only once in the last 250,000 years have humans stumbled upon a way to lift ourselves out of the endless cycle of poverty, hunger, and war that defines most of history—in 18th century England when we accidentally discovered the miracle of liberal democratic capitalism. As Americans we are doubly blessed that those radical ideas were written into the Constitution, laying the groundwork for our uniquely prosperous society: · Our rights come from God not from the government. · The government belongs to us; we do not belong to the government. · The individual is sovereign. We are all captains of our own souls. · The fruits of our labors belong to us. In the last few decades, these political virtues have been turned into vices. As we are increasingly taught to view our traditions as a system of oppression, exploitation and “white privilege,” the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from left and right. At a moment when authoritarianism, tribalism, identity politics, nationalism, and cults of personality are rotting our democracy from within, Goldberg exposes the West’s suicidal tendencies on both sides of the ideological aisle. For the West to survive, we must renew our sense of gratitude for what our civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals that led us out of the bloody muck of the past – or back to the muck we will go. Suicide is painless, liberty takes work. Running Water. Electricity. Antibiotics. Dentistry. Air Conditioning. Democracy. The Rule Of Law. Such Things Are Not Only Remarkably New Inventions In Human History, They Are All Alien To Humanity's Natural Habitat. Here Is What Is Natural: Poverty, Hunger, Violence, Tribal Hatred, And An Early Death. If The Garden Of Eden Existed, It Was A Slum. Only Once In The Last 250,000 Years Did Humans Lift Themselves Out Of Their Natural Environment Of Poverty. It Happened In Eighteenth-century England, And It Was An Accident. If Democracy, Individualism, And The Free Market Were Humankind's Destiny, They Should Have Appeared And Taken Hold A Bit Earlier In The Evolutionary Record. The Emergence Of Freedom And Prosperity Was Nothing Short Of A Miracle. Indeed, It Was The Miracle Of Human History. As Americans, We Are Doubly Blessed, Because The Radical Ideas That Made The Miracle Possible Were Written Not Just Into The Constitution, But In Our Hearts, Laying The Groundwork For Our Uniquely Prosperous Society... In The Last Few Decades, These Political Virtues Have Been Turned Into Vices. As We Are Increasingly Taught To View Our Traditions As A System Of Oppression, Exploitation, And Privilege, The Principles Of Liberty And The Rule Of Law Are Under Attack From Left And Right. At A Moment When Authoritarianism, Tribalism, Identity Politics, Nationalism, And Cults Of Personality Are Rotting Our Democracy From Within, Jonah Goldberg Exposes The West's Suicidal Tendencies On Both Sides Of The Ideological Aisle. For The West To Survive, We Must Renew Our Sense Of Gratitude For What Our Civilization Has Given Us And Rediscover The Ideals And Habits Of The Heart That Led Us Out Of The Bloody Muck Of The Past - Or Back To The Muck We Will Go.--book Jacket. Introduction: Stumbling Upon A Miracle -- Human Nature: Our Inner Tribesman -- Corrupting The Miracle: When Human Nature Strikes Back -- The State: A Myth Agreed Upon -- The Birth Of Capitalism: A Glorious Accident -- The Eternal Battle: Reason Versus The Search For Meaning -- The American Miracle: They Put It In Writing -- The Elites: Aristocrats Unchained -- The Progressive Era: The Birth Of The Living Constitution And The Death Of Liberty -- The Administrative State: The Shadow Government -- Tribalism Today: Nationalism, Populism, And Identity Politics -- Pop Culture Politics: Godzilla, Rock & Roll, And The Romantic Spirit -- The Family's Losing War Against Barbarism -- The Trumpian Era: The Perils Of Populism -- Things Fall Apart: The American Experiment At Risk -- Conclusion: Decline Is A Choice. Jonah Goldberg. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 381-435) And Index. "Running water. Electricity. Antibiotics. Dentistry. Air conditioning. Democracy. The rule of law. Such things are not only remarkably new inventions in human history, they are all alien to humanity's natural habitat. Here is what is natural: poverty, hunger, violence, tribal hatred, and an early death. If the Garden of Eden existed, it was a slum. Only once in the last 250,000 years did humans lift themselves out of their natural environment of poverty. It happened in eighteenth-century England--and it was an accident. If democracy, individualism, and the free market were humankind's destiny, they should have appeared and taken hold a bit earlier in the evolutionary record. The emergence of freedom and prosperity was nothing short of a miracle. Indeed, it was the miracle of human history. As Americans we are doubly blessed, because the radical ideas that made the Miracle possible were written not just into the Constitution, but in our hearts, laying the groundwork for our uniquely prosperous society... In the last few decades, these politcal virtues have been turned into vices. As we are increasingly taught to view our traditions as a system of oppression, exploitation, and privlege, the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from left and right. At a moment when authoritarianism, tribalism, identity politics, nationalism, and cults of personality are rotting our democracy from within, Jonah Goldberg exposes the West's suicidal tendencies on both sides of the ideological aisle. With his trademark blend of political history, social analysis, pop culture, and wit, Goldberg makes the timely case that America and other democracies are in peril because they have lost the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity. For the West to survive, we must renew our sense of gratitude for what our civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals and habits of the heart that led us out of the bloody muck of the past - or back to the muck we will go."--Page [2-3] of cover. “Epic and debate-shifting.” —David Brooks With his trademark blend of political history, social science, economics, and pop culture, two-time NYT bestselling author, syndicated columnist, National Review senior editor, and American Enterprise Institute fellow Jonah Goldberg makes the timely case that America and other democracies are in peril as they lose the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity. Instead we are surrendering to populism, nationalism and other forms of tribalism. Only once in the last 250,000 years have humans stumbled upon a way to lift ourselves out of the endless cycle of poverty, hunger, and war that defines most of history—in 18th century England when we accidentally discovered the miracle of liberal democratic capitalism. As Americans we are doubly blessed that those radical ideas were written into the Constitution, laying the groundwork for our uniquely prosperous society: · Our rights come from God not from the government. · The government belongs to us; we do not belong to the government. · The individual is sovereign. We are all captains of our own souls. · The fruits of our labors belong to us. In the last few decades, these political virtues have been turned into vices. As we are increasingly taught to view our traditions as a system of oppression, exploitation and “white privilege,” the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from left and right. At a moment when authoritarianism, tribalism, identity politics, nationalism, and cults of personality are rotting our democracy from within, Goldberg exposes the West’s suicidal tendencies on both sides of the ideological aisle. For the West to survive, we must renew our sense of gratitude for what our civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals that led us out of the bloody muck of the past – or back to the muck we will go. Suicide is painless, liberty takes work. **Epic and debate-shifting. David Brooks With his trademark blend of political history, social science, economics, and pop culture, two-time NYT bestselling author, syndicated columnist, National Review senior editor, and American Enterprise Institute fellow Jonah Goldberg makes the timely case that America and other democracies are in peril as they lose the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity. Instead we are surrendering to populism, nationalism and other forms of tribalism. ** Only once in the last 250,000 years have humans stumbled upon a way to lift ourselves out of the endless cycle of poverty, hunger, and war that defines most of historyin 18th century England when we accidentally discovered the miracle of liberal democratic capitalism. As Americans we are doubly blessed that those radical ideas were written into the Constitution, laying the groundwork for our uniquely prosperous society: Our rights come from God not from the government. The government belongs to us; we do not belong to the government. The individual is sovereign. We are all captains of our own souls. The fruits of our labors belong to us. In the last few decades, these political virtues have been turned into vices. As we are increasingly taught to view our traditions as a system of oppression, exploitation and white privilege, the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from left and right. At a moment when authoritarianism, tribalism, identity politics, nationalism, and cults of personality are rotting our democracy from within, Goldberg exposes the Wests suicidal tendencies on both sides of the ideological aisle. For the West to survive, we must renew our sense of gratitude for what our civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals that led us out of the bloody muck of the past or back to the muck we will go. Suicide is painless, liberty takes work. ** NEW YORK TIMES #160;BESTSELLER #160;An urgent argument that America and other democracies are in peril because they have lost the will to defend the values and institutions that sustain freedom and prosperity. #160; Epic and debate-shifting.David Brooks,#160; New York Times #160; Only once in the last 250,000 years have humans stumbled upon a way to lift ourselves out of the endless cycle of poverty, hunger, and war that defines most of history. If democracy, individualism, and the free market were humankinds destiny, they should have appeared and taken hold a bit earlier in the evolutionary record. The emergence of freedom and prosperity was nothing short of a miracle. #160; As Americans we are doubly blessed, because the radical ideas that made the miracle possible were written not just into the Constitution but in our hearts, laying the groundwork for our uniquely prosperous society. Those ideas are: #160; #160;Our rights come from God, not from the government. #8232; #160;The government belongs to us; we do not belong to it. #8232; #160;The individual is sovereign. We are all captains of our own souls, not bound by the circumstances of our birth. #8232; #160;The fruits of our labors belong to us.#8232; #160; In the last few decades, these political virtues have been turned into vices. As we are increasingly taught to view our traditions as a system of oppression, exploitation, and privilege, the principles of liberty and the rule of law are under attack from left and right. For the West to survive, we must renew our sense of gratitude for what our civilization has given us and rediscover the ideals and habits of the heart that led us out of the bloody muck of the pastor back to the muck we will go Argues that the United States needs to get back to the political virtues it was founded on and that American democracy is being destroyed by authoritarianism, tribalism, identity politics, nationalism, and cults of personality