Thomas Frank on Rendezvous with Oblivion: Reports from a Sinking Society

From the acclaimed author of Listen, Liberal and What's the Matter with Kansas, a scathing collection of his incisive commentary on our cruel times--perfect for this political moment.
What does a middle-class democracy look like when it comes apart? When, after forty years of economic triumph, America's winners persuade themselves that they owe nothing to the rest of the country?
With his sharp eye for detail, Thomas Frank takes us on a wide-ranging tour through present-day America, showing us a society in the late stages of disintegration and describing the worlds of both the winners and the losers--the sprawling mansion districts as well as the lives of fast-food workers.
Rendezvous with Oblivion is a collection of interlocking essays examining how inequality has manifested itself in our cities, in our jobs, in the way we travel--and of course in our politics, where in 2016, millions of anxious ordinary people rallied to the presidential campaign of a billionaire who meant them no good.
These accounts of folly and exploitation are here brought together in a single volume unified by Frank's distinctive voice, sardonic wit, and anti-orthodox perspective. They capture a society where every status signifier is hollow, where the allure of mobility is just another con game, and where rebellion too often yields nothing.
For those who despair of the future of our country and of reason itself, Rendezvous with Oblivion is a booster shot of energy, reality, and moral outrage.
Thomas Frank is the author of Listen, Liberal, Pity the Billionaire, The Wrecking Crew, and What's the Matter with Kansas? A former columnist for The Wall Street Journal and Harper's, Frank is the founding editor of The Baffler and writes regularly for The Guardian. He lives outside Washington, D.C.
The event was held at Book Culture on Columbus in New York City on June 27, 2018 at 7:00pm.
www.bookcultur...

[@norgler584]

I am from the Netherlands, but when looking for a thinker who can explain the situation in my country or Europe, I rather turn to Thomas Frank than to one of my locals.

[@mtn1793]

Yow! I’ve loved Thomas Frank since the 1st book. He’s now one of the last of honest men. And still the best. But the forces of Con-Servant darkness are relentless, and without morals or limitation. Never Ever GOP Again!

[@albertricks4976]

Bank bailouts, Flint water, Detroit auto industry. WTF? What kind of America are we living in?! Now with Republican visionaries at the helm it's like the Stock Market crash of '29 set to the movie Ground Hog Day. Shit. Over & over!

[@Johnconno]

I'd describe it as Dog Day Afternoon painted by Bosch, inside a Crackhouse.

[@robertgiles9124]

And sure let's pretend the Democratic cities are just fine? Selective outrage.

[@kristinamelnichenko5775]

#bernie2020 #berniebeatstrump Great talk! Aged well. Very cute not knowing AOC’s name, now she’s stumping with Bernie!

[@slaugmromni6743]

Frank knows the answers to his questions about journalists. He knows because he's read "Manufacturing Consent".

[@williamjameslehy1341]

Crazy that less than two years ago people barely knew who AOC was, and now she's such a household name.

[@LiberaLib]

33:50 Rumble in the Bronx!

[@randallsmith5631]

Wed. 7 Nov 2018

[@zoofeather]

Gambino casino - where is the tax return?,,,bankrupt….USA….moving backward….

[@nowaskmehow]

"Our top politicians have not been on the take." That's an odd exemption carved there for obama, Clinton, and friends.

[@falcoperegrinus82]

"Victoria Ocasio-Lopez" lol

[@randallsmith5631]

Circa Aug.2018

[@DougGrinbergs]

3:12 Thomas Frank

[@Jraymiami]

👍🏻

[@williamsecor6880]

The Ironies of History and Science To America’s Nazis and Gay Bashers, Irony. Recent research and interviews with the Hitler family in Germany and America revealed that Hitler had Jewish ancestors and relatives. Eva Braun (his wife), had Jewish ancestors and relatives. There was a DNA analysis of hairs from her hairbrush. Also, Hitler’s nephew is living on Long Island and he is gay. Sources: Documentary ”Uncle Hitler” in German and English. “Uncle Hitler” you tube. And Jablonski, Nina, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University (race and skin color), you tube. Note that Hitler had a team research his family history, so he probably suspected that he had some Jewish ancestry. Even more reason for being scientifically and genetically literate because we are destroying our species worldwide because of ignorance, superstition, fantasy and make believe because there is no thing as “race”. There is no white race, black race, Hispanic, Asian or Jewish race. There is one race, the human race, homo sapiens. We are our brother’s keeper. Keep in mind that Trump’s father and grandfather were German, and Trump kept/keeps a copy of Hitler’s Mein Kempt (My Struggle), on the side of his bed. It has now passed into the public domain. As more and more evidence surfaces about Trump’s traitorous behavior, just like in post WWII German, people will disavow supporting Trump. Not all his base, but some of it will.

[@JustinRussellcc]

I wish more DNCers were democrats

[@vinyl1Earthlink]

Say, Mr Frank, the well-off segment of society is far from 'a handful'. The top 20% of the US, that lives in households who have an income greater than $120K, is more than 50 million people. When numbers are added to wealth, you get a very powerful force, perhaps an unbeatable one.

[@mns8732]

And that 20% is shrinking. No one is secure unless you're directly tied to DoD related enterprises.

[@D45VR]

day tripper - BS

[@mns8732]

@@D45VR man o man you're not reading the numbers

[@nicot9305]

So the 80% is less than a handful? Where are most of the guns? Bring your 20% on.

[@mns8732]

White Christians voting for other White Christians is not voting against their best interest. Mr Frank misses it.

[@richardbuse228]

White Christians have been screwed to death by the Republican Party who laughs at them behind their back and uses them for votes

[@stevensica89]

@@richardbuse228 As does The Israeli Lobby.