A cultural history of the last forty years, The Age of American Unreason focuses on the convergence of social forces—usually treated as separate entities—that has created a perfect storm of anti-rationalism. These include the upsurge of religious fundamentalism, with more political power today than ever before; the failure of public education to create an informed citizenry; and the triumph of video over print culture.

A fascinating figure, the thinker who came to be known as George Santayana was born in Spain, but grew up in the United States. During his formal training in philosophy, Santayana studied under some of the foremost figures of his era, including William James. In the volume Character and Opinion in the United States, the author calls upon his dual status as both a long-time American and a cultural outsider to offer keen insights into the