A House Divided [Paperback]

Mark Gerzon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 1997

"A house divided against itself cannot stand, " warned Abraham Lincoln. Today, more than a century later, Rockefeller Foundation consultant Mark Gerzon alerts us to the vicious civil wars currently raging within our nation and offers firsthand accounts of those working to heal the wounds. Gerzon fairly presents several opposing views and offers practical examples for those seeking to reclaim civility and decency in public discourse. Index. Notes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gerzon (The Whole World Is Watching) defines six overlapping yet adversarial belief systems that, he contends, dominate American life. Adherents of Corporatia champion the free market and believe that the private sector should set the nation's agenda. Citizens of Disia ("the Disempowered State"), including leftists, feminists, black and gay activists, see a society based on exploitation and oppression. Gaia's subscribers pursue social action grounded in global consciousness. The remaining three belief systems are Officia (faith in government), Patria (the religious right) and Media (those who set their standards by TV, radio, computers and entertainment superstars). Gerzon complements his analysis with profiles of bridge-building "new patriots," among them Paul Gorman, head of the interfaith organization National Religious Partnership for the Environment, and Marjorie Kelley, founding editor of Business Ethics magazine. Gerzon, who is preachy, concludes by challenging readers thus: "Create your own agenda for repairing this magnificent house we call America." 50,000 first printing; author tour.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

France of the ancien regime had three estates; Gerzon (The Whole World Is Watching [1969] and A Choice of Heroes: The Changing Faces of American Manhood [1982]) doubles the number for contemporary America. And the estates, as in France of yore, just don't get along. "Corporatia" hates "Officia" but "Gaia" (the transformation state) abhors "Corporatia," and on the sidelines brooding are "Patria" (religious people) and "Disia" (disempowered people). "Media" is the only unifying social segment in Gerzon's typology, in the negative sense that what pours from TVs and newspapers incenses the others. The author goes on to exhort readers to a "new patriotism," defined as a melding of each estate's gifts, offering Disia's conscience and Corporatia's ingenuity as examples. Ordinary people who have effected Gerzon's notions round out the text, and they indicate the primary readership: activist conciliators and idealists, whom Gerzon's system should spur. Gilbert Taylor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Tarcher; First Edition edition (April 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0874778743
• ISBN-13: 978-0874778748
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,648,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound and enjoyable, too. Great combination!, October 11, 1999

By 

Brenda B. Pollak (Jacksonville, Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A House Divided (Paperback)

Mark Gerzon, in A House Divided : Six Belief Systems Struggling for America's Soul, provides insight into the major dynamics of American politics and culture and the internal struggles which will shape our nation for generations to come. If the reader will put himself in the place of each of the segments of American society as Gerzon so convincingly describes each one, he will gain remarkable new understanding of the commonalities and the divisions within our country. Great read and important information.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required reading for those interested in our society., July 29, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A House Divided (Hardcover)

Not an easy read, but one that you will be glad you did if you are the type of person that is interested in the world arround you. The challenge here is to read and become a better person for having done so. It should open your mind

5.0 out of 5 stars We need each other, October 30, 2010

By 

Boris B. Delaine (Durham, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A House Divided (Paperback)

Mr Gerzon has illustrated the values that various interest groups bring in the USA and we need to appreciate each interest group. Conversely, we must create balance among these interest groups to help our nation to continue to progress in the future.

This is a great book and it provides a thoughtful insight that is valuable to people in other societies.