Utopia's Debris

Selected Essays

By Gary Indiana | Publisher: Basic Books

About the book

Gary Indiana is one of America's leading cultural critics -- a public intellectual who has written key essays on every aspect of American culture. Utopia's Debris comprises selections of his very best work, revealing him to be an enormously acute, frequently scabrous, and always brilliant observer of the best and worst America has to offer.

His writings range from popular culture -- trash novels, architectural wonders and horrors -- to appreciations of the best of modern literature, art, and cinema. They include his convincing (and highly entertaining) debunking of fashionable conspiracy theories, a spirited and contrarian defense of Bill Clinton's autobiography, a Mencken-like examination of the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the politics of celebrity in what Indiana calls the Age of Contempt.

A postmodern Emerson, Indiana wields scalpel-sharp wit and a fealty to logic on issues in which, all too often, irrationalism and emotionalism hold sway. At times rigorously serious, at other times whimsical, Indiana's most conspicuous feature is skepticism -- his wildly satirical contempt for conventional wisdom.

Editions of Utopia's Debris

Hardcover
ISBN 9780465002481
EBook
ISBN 9780786727094

Read an Excerpt

Gary Indiana is one of America's leading cultural critics -- a public intellectual who has written key essays on every aspect of American culture. Utopia's Debris comprises selections of his very best work, revealing him to be an enormously acute, frequently scabrous, and always brilliant observer of the best and worst America has to offer.

His writings range from popular culture -- trash novels, architectural wonders and horrors -- to appreciations of the best of modern literature, art, and cinema. They include his convincing (and highly entertaining) debunking of fashionable conspiracy theories, a spirited and contrarian defense of Bill Clinton's autobiography, a Mencken-like examination of the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the politics of celebrity in what Indiana calls the Age of Contempt.

A postmodern Emerson, Indiana wields scalpel-sharp wit and a fealty to logic on issues in which, all too often, irrationalism and emotionalism hold sway. At times rigorously serious, at other times whimsical, Indiana's most conspicuous feature is skepticism -- his wildly satirical contempt for conventional wisdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Utopia's Debris about?

Gary Indiana is one of America's leading cultural critics -- a public intellectual who has written key essays on every aspect of American culture. Utopia's Debris comprises selections of his very best work, revealing him to be an enormously acute, frequently scabrous, and always brilliant observer of the best and worst America has to offer.

His writings range from popular culture -- trash novels, architectural wonders and horrors -- to appreciations of the best of modern literature, art, and cinema. They include his convincing (and highly entertaining) debunking of fashionable conspiracy theories, a spirited and contrarian defense of Bill Clinton's autobiography, a Mencken-like examination of the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the politics of celebrity in what Indiana calls the Age of Contempt.

A postmodern Emerson, Indiana wields scalpel-sharp wit and a fealty to logic on issues in which, all too often, irrationalism and emotionalism hold sway. At times rigorously serious, at other times whimsical, Indiana's most conspicuous feature is skepticism -- his wildly satirical contempt for conventional wisdom.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Utopia's Debris?

Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Biography and non-fiction prose > Essays

Where can I read a sample of Utopia's Debris?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780465002481

How long is Utopia's Debris and how many pages does it have?

Utopia's Debris has 320 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Utopia's Debris?

Gary Indiana

Who is the Publisher of the book Utopia's Debris?

Basic Books

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Utopia's Debris is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780465002481) and ebook(ISBN 9780786727094)

Where can I buy Utopia's Debris online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Utopia's Debris from below

Where can I buy Utopia's Debris?