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Lawrence M. Mead

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Burdens of Freedom: Cultural Difference and American Power Hardcover – April 23, 2019

by Lawrence Mead (Author)

17

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Burdens of Freedom presents a new and radical interpretation of America and its challenges. The United States is an individualist society where most people seek to realize personal goals and values out in the world. This unusual, inner-driven culture was the chief reason why first Europe, then Britain, and finally America came to lead the world. But today, our deepest problems derive from groups and nations that reflect the more passive, deferential temperament of the non-West. The long-term poor and many immigrants have difficulties assimilating in America mainly because they are less inner-driven than the norm. Abroad, the United States faces challenges from Asia, which is collective-minded, and also from many poorly-governed countries in the developing world. The chief threat to American leadership is no longer foreign rivals like China but the decay of individualism within our own society.

The great divide is between the individualist West, for which life is a project, and the rest of the world, in which most people seek to survive rather than achieve. This difference, although clear in research on world cultures, has been ignored in virtually all previous scholarship on American power and public policy, both at home and abroad. Burdens of Freedom is the first book to recognize that difference. It casts new light on America's greatest struggles. It re-evaluates the entire Western tradition, which took individualism for granted. How to respond to cultural difference is the greatest test of our times.

Print length

368 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Encounter Books
Publication date

April 23, 2019
Reading age

18 years and up
Dimensions

6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
ISBN-10

1641770406
ISBN-13

978-1641770408
See all details

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lawrence Mead’s ideas have formed much of the political basis for the sweeping national reforms of the American welfare system since the 1990s. In this volume his cross-disciplinary approach merges political philosophy, history, and psychology to explain the origin of the West’s individualist culture. In a completely original argument, Mead shows how individualism combines freedom with the burden of interior constraints over action. This important characteristic forms a culture that is not present outside the West, and Mead warns us that this individualism is at risk of being lost, with enormous consequences for America’s future.”

―Jason Turner, former New York City Health and Welfare Commissioner

* * *

“American power is not just a by-product of wealth or the scale of a large country. Rather, it is the achievement of individuals. . . . For America to continue to lead the world, it must, above all, retain that buccaneering spirit. Americans must continue to bear the burdens of freedom.”

―From the Introduction

About the Author

Lawrence M. Mead is Professor of Politics and Public Policy at New York University. His many previous books defined the theory behind the radical welfare reform of the 1990s, which for the first time required many welfare recipients to work as a condition of aid. His works also include close studies of how to implement work requirements. Since the 1980s, he has been an influential advisor to social policy makers in Washington, at the state and local level, and in several foreign countries.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Encounter Books (April 23, 2019)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1641770406
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641770408
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.55 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.5 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #667,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #75 in Cultural Policy
- #251 in Non-US Legal Systems (Books)
- #286 in Comparative Politics

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4.7 out of 5

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Deal Hunter

Culture Matters

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023

We are told that any discrepancies between outcomes for various races has to be due to systemic racism. Yet this author maintains that differences in outcomes are instead based on cultural differences. Those in the West who value individualism over collectivism have experienced both greater freedom and greater outcomes in both financial outcomes and knowledge of all types because the individualism encourages individual efforts instead of the group think dominated by cultural norms, while result in society dominated by a few people at the top of the social order. The bottom line is that it is culture and not race which determine these outcomes. Culture can be learned. Black author Thomas Sowell’s extensive research of cultures around the world as documented in his many books proves it is culture which makes all the difference in outcomes. It explains why Chinese do better than most local cultures wherever they migrate. German culture allowed Germans to succeed throughout Eastern Europe because they were more educated for that time period than were local cultures. They have also experienced great business success in the United States. Scotland was a poor and backward country compared to England until they promoted higher levels of education for everyone. Nigerian immigrants to the U.S. are more educated than the average American and do very well economically as well. But cultural change is difficult and takes time to achieve. This book is objective and not racist, but it is hard to understand at times.

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Bradley

Someone has to talk about why democracy is failing/has failed in many places.

Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2020

Verified Purchase

Why have democracies failed? I don't know if this guy has all the answers, but we need to figure this out. I would encourage those who consider this book racist to recommend alternative books that deal with this problem, or write your own book.

7 people found this helpful

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cb4ward

Excellent original thesis on the advancement of civilization

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020

Very interesting ideas on the conditions conducive to the evolution and advancement of civilization.
Don’t be fooled by the negative reviews here. Their comments suggest they didn’t read the book - afraid of self-reliance – talking down to minorities who say ‘I’ll think for myself, thanks.’ Negative reviewers are wannabe thought police wanting us to take orders rather than take initiative.

13 people found this helpful

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Mike

A Screed Born Out of Bitterness Against Affirmative Action.

Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2020

I attended a seminar hosted by Mead in 2016 where he outlined the premise of this book, back when he was still having difficulty finding a publisher on account of it being, well, horribly racist.

When pressed on the numerous real-world examples of cultures flouting his thesis on individuality, he would hem and haw and explain why they were an "exception." Well, you can only have so many exceptions before they become the rule. Later, Mead (quite revealingly) told a story about how his initial introduction into academia was hampered by affirmative action, as institution after institution hired "less qualified" minorities into positions that -- he believed that -- he deserved.

It fails on its premise and completely sidesteps things like post-colonial and materialist analyses. This book is just an excuse for Mead to couch white supremacy and genetic racism in the language of "culture."

15 people found this helpful

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JoAnn

Typical Racism Cloaked in Academia

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019

This character who plays a NYU Professor is basically saying that society was better off when Jim Crow existed. That tells you all you need to know. Thankfully, many have become aware that racism is not a southern problem. In fact, Lee Atwater's "Southern Strategy" was conceived in New York. From how this book reads, it's likely Larry Mead was one of those in that smoky room.

11 people found this helpful

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H. Shaughnessy

This author advocates for white supremacy.

Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2019

Larry Mead believes and advocates in this book that black people were better off during Jim Crow (being subjugated, tortured, terrorized and murdered) and that they suffer today from too much freedom. Shame on you Amazon for carrying this book.

16 people found this helpful

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