Every society has its ideals, and its myths. In Naked America, author Michael A. Smith examines many of the nation's original ideals, and presents compelling information indicating most of them have been transformed into myths. For example, many regularly describe the United States as the land of economic opportunity, yet 20 percent of American households earn half of all income, and own more than half of all the nation's assets. Education is touted as the road to success, although only one-third of high school graduates achieve a postsecondary education degree. Two-thirds of future jobs in...