Virtual Memories

Conversation begins at 7:10
With his fantastic new book, Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America (Random House, bookshop.org/a..., Kurt Andersen (www.kurtanders...) explores how rich conservatives responded to the 1960s by pushing America on a pro-business trajectory that has led to record income inequality and a nation unequipped to handle a pandemic. We get into the one-two punch of this book and Kurt's previous history of America, Fantasyland (bookshop.org/a..., the over-exaggeration of individualism and how puts us on the precipice of disaster, post-'80s cultural stasis and nostalgia, the way "if it feels good, do it" led to "profits over all", the long-term impact of the Occupy movement, and how his kids give him optimism that this can all be fixed. We also get into his first New York City moment, the lessons learned from his 20-year tenure hosting Studio 360 on PRI (www.kurtanders..., pandemic life and his re-integration into NYC, how we both treat our interviews like first dates, why he wants to get back to writing novels, and plenty more. Follow Kurt on Twitter ( / kbandersen , Facebook ( / kurt.andersen.378199 ) and Instagram ( / kurtbandersen ) • More info at chimeraobscura.... • Support The Virtual Memories Show via / vmspod

[@tomscheffer824]

"Fantasyland" and "Evil Geniuses" should be the required HS history books used for students really understand where we came from how we got to this point. I can't recommend these two books enough!

[@deanrao4805]

I was gratified to hear somebody object to the often unmerited application of the words "earned" and "conservative".

[@billybobhobnob101]

Born in 1961 I saw it first hand, I lived in Buffalo in a middle-class blue collar neighborhood - the 1970s turned the neighborhood poor-layoff after layoff, then loss of whole shifts, then whole plants closed up as manufacturing was moving south and west to union free states then to Mexico the finally to China. I've seen the working-class squeezed for a long time and I don't expect that to stop anytime soon, "Killing the Goose that laid golden eggs" is a fairy tale that was lacking from our oligarch's bedtimes.

[@brianjennings7644]

Kurt and I are basically the same age.. his research, and aggregation of fact, make many things make sense..now, that I instinctively understood..but lacked clear evidence. I also read every Harvard Lampoon, off the stand, and every Spy magazine, in real time.. I guess you could call Kurt my "Spirit Author". thank you for this excellent interview.

[@BabaSamShelley]

Thank you, I'm going to add Fantasy Land and Evil Geniuses to my reading list. So much head trash in our minds creating confusion.

[@MLP88]

Starts at 7:20

[@kirstinstrand6292]

I highly recommend Anderson's book FANTASY LAND. It absolutuly clarified the reasons that so many people are steeped in ILLUSIONAL thinking. (an audiobook, too) Long, but Brilliant!

[@kirstinstrand6292]

My apologies for bluntness. Anderson's forte is not interviews. Get his audiobooks - they shine!

[@lunchwagondavis9983]

I hope Chuck Todd hears you guys discuss what a jerk move it is to constantly murmur, "yeah, uh-huh" while interviewing someone.

[@terrancegrant1664]

Great interview. Thanks.