The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War

The Undertow is a book that explores the growing division in the US from 2011 to 2021, examining the currents of gender, faith, and money that led to the "Trumpocene" and exploring a geography of grief and uncertainty in the midst of plague and rising fascism. It is a necessary reckoning with the present, precarious condition, and begins and closes with freedom songs of the past that critique American failures but still see American possibility.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 21 April 2023
Publisher: WW Norton & Co

The Undertow: A Decade of Growing Division in the US

The Undertow, a profound and disturbing book, delves into a decade of growing division in the United States, spanning from 2011 to 2021. Author Jeff Sharlet explores the intricate currents of gender, faith, and money that led to the emergence of the "Trumpocene" era. He also examines the geography of grief and uncertainty amidst the backdrop of plague and rising fascism.

Beginning with freedom songs of the past that critique American failures while still holding onto a vision of American possibility, The Undertow serves as a necessary reckoning with the present, precarious condition. Sharlet's writing is poetic and profound, offering a thought-provoking exploration of the forces that have shaped our society.

The book highlights the growing divide between different groups in the US, with men gathering to rage against women and the forty-fifth president of the United States being celebrated as a vessel of conspiratorial fears and fantasies. It also explores the role of religion in perpetuating these divisions, with nominally Christian churches glorifying materialism and an ecstatic indulgence in hate, while others celebrate an ecstatic indulgence in hate, citing Scripture whilst preparing for civil war.

The Undertow is a powerful and thought-provoking book that sheds light on the complex dynamics of our society and the urgent need for introspection and change. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the current state of affairs and the challenges we face as a nation.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 162 x 237 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781324006497