America: The Farewell Tour

By: Chris Hedges

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's Summary

A profound and provocative examination of America in crisis, where unemployment, deindustrialization, and a bitter hopelessness and malaise have resulted in an epidemic of diseases of despair - drug abuse, gambling, suicide, magical thinking, xenophobia, and a culture of sadism and hate.

America, says Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Chris Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis, the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress, the pornification of culture, the rise of magical thinking, the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As our society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. All these ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of the nation and the planet.

Donald Trump rode this disenchantment to power. In America: The Farewell Tour, Hedges argues that neither political party, now captured by corporate power, addresses the systemic problem. Until our corporate coup d’état is reversed, these diseases will grow and ravage the country. A poignant cry reported from communities across the country, America: The Farewell Tour seeks to jolt us out of our complacency while there is still time.  

©2018 Chris Hedges (P)2018 Simon & Schuster UK

Sobering and Necessary

In the decades following Pax Americana (if indeed there are any), historians will look to the works of Noam Chomsky, Morris Berman, Christopher Lasch, Alexander Cockburn, and, of course, Chris Hedges to find out what went wrong. In short: a lot.

From modern day slavery in the US's abhorrent prison system, to the drug and suicide epidemics of the Rust Belt, Hedges takes us of a tour of America's "other side", shadowy and immense.

Trump is terrible, but as Hedges reminds us, he is a symptom of a decaying empire, not a newfound disease. Listening to the accounts of families destroyed by neoliberal economics and a trashy, sadistic culture, it is shown again and again why so many people chose *anyone other* than the business-as-usual candidate in 2016. Who, let's not forget, responded to Trump's moronic slogan by telling voters: America is already great.

What planet is Clinton on?

Ours, unfortunately. There is no shortage of delusional thinking as the old order splutters and breaks down - particularly among those dedicated to extracting the marrow.

Hedges is among those providing vital criticism, and, if American elites had any sense, they would be feverishly reading everything the man has written. They won't, but do yourself a favour and start, if you haven't already.

Oh, and the narrator was the perfect choice.

The dirty side of our modern World.

The second most powerful book I’ve come across. (The Prince) being the first.
Dark, subversive,and definitely disturbing. An eye opener to what is done in our name.
Never though a Marxist could teach me so much, not just about society, but about my own misguided views.
One of those you can't handle the truth types of books. One I certainly I would highly recommend to all, but the naive.
Some day, some one, will imprison this guy, his crime, revealing the truth in all it's grubby details.

An excellent book

A book about modern America. A sad book about a sad country. The book is well narrated and gives a picture of how much of America lives.

A poor attempt.

Half of the book is porn related. very grafic and disgusting. the writer is one sick individual. I have returned the book. FILF.

Fantastic.

This book is so on point. Chris Hedges is his usual mater of fact self. This is where we are, this is how we got here and this is where we’re going if history tells us anything.

A devastating critique of America and those who would emulate her

Hedges deploys a brutal combination of individual case studies and broader statistical and other data over a range of topics designed to illustrate his argument. The prose is powerful and often very difficult to handle because the case being made is very disheartening. But in the end there is a call to resistance anchored in a spiritual quest to become more fully human that is inspiring.

The narrator is excellent and I highly recommend this book.

Prophetic

Great listen, very accessible material regardless of background. The sheer quantity of real life examples offered as evidence is overwhelming. It’s also scary with a glimmer of hope.

Superb

Fabulous insight to US society. A must read for budding historians or anyone who is objective about the deeds, misdeeds & decline of greedy & corrupt corporate and political leaders. Congratulations Chris Hedges and beautifully read by Fred Sanders.

Excellent

Very necessary for intelligent people who can see beyond the mainstream propaganda that is fed to us everyday.

perfect description of reality we live in

its such an accurate description of our way of life and how this failed system called capitalism exploits the weak part of our soul and turns and prevents us from achieving the goal of our species, to reach the stars and to unite for the greater good... too bad we lived for more then 2000 years in this state, to have rockets and computers doesn't mean anything, we didn't change at all... to achieve real progress is to ascend to another level of conciseness at a collective stage, as long as capitalism will be around we ll never change or improve beyond this primitive state, no matter what technology we posses