{"product_id":"idiot-america-how-stupidity-became-a-virtue-in-the-land-of-the-free-9780767926157","title":"Idiot America: How Stupidity Became a Virtue in the Land of the Free","description":"\u003cb\u003eNATIONAL BESTSELLER\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe three Great Premises of Idiot America: \u003cbr\u003e- Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units\u003cbr\u003e- Anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough\u003cbr\u003e- Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is determined by how fervently they believe it\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith his trademark wit and insight, veteran journalist Charles Pierce delivers a gut-wrenching, side-splitting lament about the glorification of ignorance in the United States. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePierce asks how a country founded on intellectual curiosity has somehow deteriorated into a nation of simpletons more apt to vote for an \u003ci\u003eAmerican Idol\u003c\/i\u003e contestant than a presidential candidate. But his thunderous denunciation is also a secret call to action, as he hopes that somehow, being intelligent will stop being a stigma, and that pinheads will once again be pitied, not celebrated. Erudite and razor-sharp, \u003ci\u003eIdiot America\u003c\/i\u003e is at once an invigorating history lesson, a cutting cultural critique, and a bullish appeal to our smarter selves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharles P. Pierce \u003c\/b\u003eis a staff writer for the \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, a contributing writer for \u003ci\u003eEsquire\u003c\/i\u003e, and a frequent contributor to \u003ci\u003eAmerican Prospect\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSlate\u003c\/i\u003e. His work has also appeared in the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eLos Angeles Times Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Nation\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Atlantic\u003c\/i\u003e, and the \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune\u003c\/i\u003e, among other publications, and he is a regular on NPR's \u003ci\u003eWait, Wait, Don't Tell Me\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eOnly a Game\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eVisit the author's wbsite at www.charlespierce.net.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51690515726610,"sku":"9780767926157","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_62b6ebc3-0086-4f5e-859c-ff210257aa3c.jpg?v=1761737670","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/idiot-america-how-stupidity-became-a-virtue-in-the-land-of-the-free-9780767926157","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}