Winner of the 2011 NCTE George Orwell Award for outstanding
contributions to the critical analysis of public discourse. One of The
Atlantic's Top 11 Philosophy/Psychology Books of 2011 As human beings,
we've always told stories: stories about who we are, where we come from,
and where we're going. Now imagine that one of those stories is taking
over the others, narrowing our diversity and creating a monoculture.
Because of the rise of the economic story, six areas of your world -
your work, your relationships with others and the environment, your
community, your physical and spiritual health, your education, and your
creativity - are changing, or have already changed, in subtle and
not-so-subtle ways. And because how you think shapes how you act, the
monoculture isn't just changing your mind - it's changing your life. "I
found myself reading non-stop, underlining like crazy...an astute
explanation about what I've been feeling recently, something I couldn't
put my finger on...[Michaels] writes in clear, energetic prose that's
thoughtful, engaging and unforced. She defines and analyzes without
judgment or insistence...a breath of fresh air..." - NPR Ohio "...a
singularly brilliant and accessible analysis of some of the fundamental
assumptions and driving principles of our time." - Comment Magazine
"...a single lucid narrative that's bound to first make you somewhat
uncomfortable and insecure, then give you the kind of pause from which
you can step back and move forward with more autonomy, authenticity and
mindfulness than ever." - The Atlantic "5 stars: The cause and effect of
our world is more surprising than you'd think. With intriguing notions
about the driving ideas of stories in every shape of our life,
"Monoculture" is an incredibly fascinating way about how the mind works
and today's consumer culture." - Midwest Book Review "If you just read
one book this year, read this one." - BuriedInPrint blog "A smart and
realistic guide to first recognizing the monoculture and the challenges
of transcending its limitations." - BrainPickings.org "A thin,
enrapturing gem. It's accessible, sensible--exactly the sort of book
that should have (and still could + should!) take off and create a tiny
little dent in books." - Kenyon Review
