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John B. Arden PhD
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America's Meltdown: The Lowest-Common-Denominator Society 1st Edition

by John B. Arden (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 8 ratings
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As entertainers, corporations, and even the government pander to the lowest common denominator, American life becomes increasingly vicarious, prefabricated, and bereft of meaning. This book examines contemporary American consciousness, considering the factors that have driven society toward gossip and sensationalism at the cost of substance and depth.

Celebrity news, video games, cookie-cutter schools, and shopping, shopping, shopping. As entertainers, corporations, and even the government pander to the lowest common denominator, American life becomes increasingly vicarious, prefabricated, and bereft of meaning. This book examines contemporary American consciousness, considering the factors that have driven society toward gossip and sensationalism at the cost of substance and depth.

Arden discusses the growing epidemic of acrimony, superficiality, attention deficit disorder, and complaints of ennui. He targets the reasons why American children have expressed their confused rage with deadly weapons, why a president boasts that he earned Cs in college, and why society has drifted into craving entertainment laced with violence and cheap thrills. The book is provocative reading for concerned citizens, as well as for scholars and researchers involved with contemporary American culture and society.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0275976394
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0275976392
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Praeger
  5. Publication date
    May 30, 2003
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
  8. Print length
    240 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A damning indictment of our mass media's cynical exploitation of the crudest impulses in the human psyche."-Ben H. Bagdikian author, The Media Monopoly

"Arden addresses problems that are at least worrisome, perhaps ominous, and that we ignore at our peril."-Noam Chomsky

"Arden is one of the millions who doesn't want what's oozing out of our TV screens. Fortunately for all of us, he's taken the time to explain why the system isn't working for all of us--and that we can do something about it."-Danny Schechter Executive Editor, The Media Channel

"Nothing short of an urgent wake-up call to sit up, take notice of and do something about the morally, intellectually and emotionally corrosive effect unchecked corporate power, operating overtly and covertly, has had over every aspect of our lives."-Montague Ullman, M.D.

?None of Arden's observations is new, but he presents them coherently and convincingly, and thoughtful readers will find little to disagree with.?-ForeWord Magazine

?Written in a trenchant style yet employing vernacular befitting a pop psychologist, this is a scathing critique of the rampant vulgarity, violence, and voyeurism in contemporary US mass culture, rooted in the cash nexus of corporate capitalism....Highly recommended. All levels and libraries.?-Choice

"None of Arden's observations is new, but he presents them coherently and convincingly, and thoughtful readers will find little to disagree with."-ForeWord Magazine

"Written in a trenchant style yet employing vernacular befitting a pop psychologist, this is a scathing critique of the rampant vulgarity, violence, and voyeurism in contemporary US mass culture, rooted in the cash nexus of corporate capitalism....Highly recommended. All levels and libraries."-Choice

About the Author

JOHN BOGHOSIAN ARDEN is Director of Training, Department of Psychiatry, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Vallejo, California. Among his earlier publications are Consciousness, Dreams, and Self and Science, Theology, and Consciousness (Praeger, 1998).

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Praeger; 1st edition (May 30, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0275976394
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0275976392
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 0.56 x 9.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 8 ratings

About the author

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John B. Arden PhD

John B. Arden PhD

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John Arden, PhD. ABPP author of 15 books has over 40 years of experience providing psychological services and directing mental health programs. Between 1999 and 2016 he served as the Director of Training for the Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers, Northern California region. He has developed one of the largest mental health training programs in the United States. In this capacity he oversees more than 150 interns and postdoctoral psychology residents in 24 medical centers. Prior to this he served as the Chief Psychologist at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Vallejo, California.

Dr. Arden's study of neuropsychology has inspired him to integrate neuroscience and psychotherapy, synthesizing the biological and psychological His work incorporates what is currently known about the brain and its capacities, including neuroplasticity and neurogenesis, with psychotherapy research, mindfulness, nutritional neuroscience and social intelligence.

He has presented seminars and workshops in over 30 countries and in all US States.

Author of 15 books, his most recent publication, Rewire Your Brain 2.0, His Mind-Brain-Gene: Toward Psychotherapy Integration combines the fields of neuroscience, epigenetics, psychoneuroimmunology, and psychotherapy. Brain2Brain, describes how neuroscience informs psychotherapy and how to talk to clients about their brain. The Brain Bible, describes five well researched factors that keep the brain healthy. Rewire Your Brain, describes how the general audience can utilize the practices of Brain-Based Therapy. He is the lead author (with Dr. Lloyd Linford) of two volumes for the practitioner entitled Brain-Based Therapy: Adults and Brain-Based Therapy: Children & Adolescents. His first book, Consciousness, Dreams, and Self, was awarded the 1997 Outstanding Academic Book Award by Choice, a publication of the American Library Association. An international panel of jurists nominated his second book: Science, Theology, and Consciousness, for the CTS award funded by the Templeton Foundation. Arden explored the degradation of the fabric of American society with America's Meltdown: Creating the Lowest Common Denominator Society. His seven self-help books are: Surviving Job Stress, Improving Your Memory for Dummies, Conquering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (with Dr. Victoria Beckner), Heal Your Anxiety Workbook, and Heal Your OCD Workbook (with Dr. Daniel DalCorso), and Rewire Your Brain.

His website: www.drjohn.arden.com

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
8 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JD Winty
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2017
Verified Purchase
Nice book, a lot of truisms in here!
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Emilia
5.0 out of 5 stars an insightful analysis of American society
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2004
This book provides a comprehensive examination of the dynamics that have led to a society where George Bush ca accuse Al Gore of being a thinker and no one bats an eye. Yes, as a previous reviewer has noted the author appears to be an environmentalist and a social idealist -- Thank God!

This book not only deals with the news media, politics, entertainment, but also medicine, mental health, art, and religion. It is a msut reading for thoughtful people.
One person found this helpful
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doomsdayer520
2.0 out of 5 stars A Lowest-Common-Denominator Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2004
It is certainly true that American society is sinking into a dumbed-down, quick-fix, marketing-oriented society. Intelligence and community are being forced out in the drive to look out for number one and make as much money as possible. These are serious issues with potentially alarming effects on our society, culture, and mental health. But if you're looking for a well-rounded and substantial examination of these issues, give this book a wide berth. Here John Boghosian Arden spends 200 pages complaining about social trends he happens to find troubling, under the assumption that piling on mountains of examples actually results in an in-depth analysis of trends, and offers next to nothing in terms of solutions or things concerned people can do to make a change. In the end, this book becomes part of the "lowest-common-denominator" phenomenon that Arden keeps accusing everyone else of perpetuating.
Speaking of lowest-common-denominator, check out the low basic quality of this book. There are many typos and factual errors that are mostly minor, but also several whoppers like actress "Candace Bergman" or the "Star War" movie series. Talk about dumbed-down public discourse. Arden apparently knows little about the social culture he is incessantly criticizing, feeling the need to introduce the concept of "windows" on computer screens to us unenlightened masses, or claiming that nobody knew what the paparazzi was before the death of Princess Diana. Arden also has a rosy Nick-at-Nite view of past society, with the type of attitude toward the wholesomeness of the past, and the evils of the present, that is little more than cranky nostalgia. And after spending seventeen chapters on rapid-fire examples in various categories of America's supposed meltdown, Arden spits out the obligatory chapter on "solutions" which adds up to no more than pie-in-the-sky idealism, such as "we need to own the responsibility for our own health" and other thin pontifications. There is also much inconsistency in Arden's "solutions" in the final chapter, such as an endorsement for minimum-standards testing in public schools, although he spent an entire chapter earlier complaining about narrowly-focused educational standards. Serious issues like those introduced here demand a serious and in-depth analysis. This isn't it. [~doomsdayer520~]
22 people found this helpful
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Cat
3.0 out of 5 stars Preview Looks great
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2011
The Preview of this book reads really well and the book seems quite interesting. I'll never read the whole book though because $50 for an electronic book is way too expensive. When cost to produce gets higher they pass the cost on to us. When cost to produce gets lower they charge the same and pocket the difference!
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Alan Stoltzfus
5.0 out of 5 stars America's Meltdown: The Lowest common-Denominator Society
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2003
Arden offers a comprehensive and incisive critique of America's dumbed down society. Using extensive examples he reviews the impact of technology, the entertainment industry, politics, education, the arts and much else within the context of a culture driven by consumer ethics. The curent recall election in California is a splendid example of the shallow mindset we have overwhelmingly stooped to.
One person found this helpful
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Marisa Vossen
5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing critique of American society
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2003
In an era when Arnold Schwarzenegger is considered a viable candidate for Governor of a major state, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of how we have melted down to a shocking level of consciousness. It is a shame that there are not more authors like Arden to shed light on the current social climate.
One person found this helpful
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Jerry Nechal
2.0 out of 5 stars A Quick Condemnation of Our Society
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2003
The basic theme of Arden's book is that our culture has migrated toward a "Lowest Common Denominator" society. In such a society "oversimplified images and homogenized consumer habits shroud ideas that once were complex." A dumb downed society watches mindless television programs and junk news. Our sports heroes and politicians reflect this meltdown. The book is a brief, 212 page, condemnation of most of what is happening around us. The author is not a fan of the Bush Administration and carries an obvious pro environment viewpoint.
Nothing is sacred in this book and pretty much everything is criticized in brief one to three page snippets. These include: the mental health system, schools, sports, the Internet, politics, the media, health care, etc. Like his criticisms, the recommendations for improvement in last chapter of the book are brief and without much depth.
The book has kind of a 1960's social concern to it. If you are looking for a quick and dirty critique of our contemporary society, this may be the book for you. However, if you are looking a more substantive social commentary, you will have to look elsewhere.
9 people found this helpful
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