Reality Isn't What It Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World [Paperback]

Walter Truett Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 14, 1992

Anderson reveals the reality of postmodernism in politics, popular culture, religion, literary criticism, art, and philosophy -- making sense of everything from deconstructionism to punk.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Walter Truett Anderson is the author of Open Secrets, Rethinking Liberalism, The Upstart Spring, and To Govern Evolution.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (February 14, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062500171
• ISBN-13: 978-0062500175
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #869,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to Understand Post-modernism? Read This Book!, May 3, 2000

By 

Marcy L. Thompson (Sammamish, WA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reality Isn't What It Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World (Paperback)

This book explains post-modernism in a way that is stripped of jargon and academic excess. It is an enjoyable book to read, and quite informative. The author makes a good case that the world has been altered by the existence of post-modernism, even for those who do not accept it as their worldview. I found that argument to be compelling, and the book as a whole to be a useful insight into the entire post-modernist enterprise.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart, essential book, June 28, 2005

By 

Jack D. Eller "Anthropologist, Author, and Ra... (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Reality Isn't What It Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World (Paperback)

I am an anthropologist who teaches courses on popular culture as well as culture theory and postmodernism. This is one of the smartest and most entertaining books on the subject of modern and postmodern life. If I had found it in time, I would have used it as a required book in my course.
A lot of postmodern writing is full of puffery, but Anderson not only grounds it but makes it very engaging and immediate. He makes many insightful observations and phrases things in quotable ways. Anyone who is new to, or even fairly familiar with, postmodern and popular culture would benefit from this book. The range of topics and the smoothness of style are among the best out there.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Discussions about Post-Modernism, May 31, 2007

By 

Chris Kitze (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Reality Isn't What It Used to Be: Theatrical Politics, Ready-to-Wear Religion, Global Myths, Primitive Chic, and Other Wonders of the Postmodern World (Paperback)

This book was published almost twenty years ago and I only wish I had found it sooner. Written in an easy-to-read and understandable style, it covers the influence of post-modern thinking on politics, pop culture, religion, art and philosophy, among other areas. Powerfully, Anderson makes the argument that everyone has their own version of reality, carefully providing examples from everyday life. For example, he contrasts the objectivist (there are a few perfect rules that everyone must obey) and the constructivist (aware that many rules are part of a socially constructed reality), the exoteric religions (Christianity and Islam - God said so, it must be true) and esoteric religions (Zen Buddhism - a personal journey without judgement).

Why is this important? Because of most of the tension in the world comes from the differences of opinion between six main groups he has outlined: Christianity, Islam, capitalism, communism/socialism, environmentalism and new age. All of these groups passionately believe in the truth of their message and would like the entire world to conform to their thinking. In the end, the book makes you wonder where all this will lead to -- complete freedom is a beautiful thing that makes many people uncomfortable.

Get this book, take it to a quiet beach and you won't see the world the same way again.