In this wide-ranging and perceptive work of cultural criticism, Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter shatter the most important myth that dominates much of radical political, economic, and cultural thinking. The idea of a counterculture -- a world outside of the consumer-dominated world that encompasses us -- pervades everything from the antiglobalization movement to feminism and environmentalism. And the idea that mocking or simply hoping the "system" will collapse, the authors argue, is not only counterproductive but has helped to create the very consumer society radicals oppose.

In a...

"A totally real, genuine, authentic book about why you shouldn't believe any of those words. And it's genuinely good."
-- Gregg Easterbrook, author of Sonic Boom

Exploring a number of trends in our popular culture--from Sarah Palin to Antiques Roadshow, organic food to the indignation over James Frey's memoir--Andrew Potter follows his successful Nation of Rebels with a new book that argues that our pursuit of the authentic is fraught with irony and self-defeat. Readers of The Paradox of Choice or Bowling Alone will find many...