The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

by George Packer
The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America cover
Good Books rating 4.3
History, Identity, Culture, Sociology
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Paperback • £12.99–£14.99
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  • ID: 9269
  • Added: 2025-12-23
  • Updated: 2025-12-31
  • ISBN: 9780374534608
  • Publisher: Macmillan
  • Published: 2014-03-04
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3

The Unwinding offers a sweeping panorama of contemporary American life, capturing the essence of the nation's transformation through the stories of its people. From the rural South to the halls of power in Washington D.C., and the tech hubs of Silicon Valley, the book weaves together personal narratives that reflect the broader societal shifts and economic upheavals of the past thirty years. /n/n Through the lens of these individuals, the book explores themes of ambition, disillusionment, and the pursuit of the American Dream, providing a nuanced and deeply human perspective on the state of the nation. It's a compelling blend of personal biography and social commentary, offering insights into the forces that have shaped modern America.

Reviews
The Guardian · The Guardian Staff · 2013-06-21
profound 4.50

The book is an epic and unsettling history of the last four decades in the US. It offers a profound and moving exploration of the American dream and its discontents.

The Guardian's review of 'The Unwinding' highlights its epic and unsettling nature, providing a deep dive into the last four decades of American history. The reviewer appreciates the book's profound and moving exploration of the American dream and its discontents, noting how it captures the essence of a nation in crisis. They also praise Packer's ability to weave together personal stories with broader historical narratives, making the book both intimate and sweeping in its scope.

Quick quotes

    The Unwinding is the right title for George Packer's epic, sad and unsettling history of the last four decades in the US.

    Packer's book – so decent, meticulous, concerned – reads like both a shrine to and the embodiment of a form of civics that barely exists in America today.

    This rich collage of characters and events adds up to a devastating picture of a country in crisis.

The New York Times · The New York Times Book Review · 2013-06-06
devastating 4.30

The book offers vivid snapshots of people who have experienced a loss of faith. It is a devastating picture of a country in crisis, providing a deep understanding of contemporary America.

The New York Times review of 'The Unwinding' emphasizes its vivid snapshots of individuals who have experienced a loss of faith, painting a devastating picture of a country in crisis. The reviewer appreciates the book's ability to provide a deep understanding of contemporary America, highlighting the personal stories that make the broader historical narrative so compelling. They also note that Packer's respectful and sympathetic treatment of his subjects allows readers to care deeply about their fates, making the book a powerful and moving read.

Quick quotes

    The Unwinding offers vivid snapshots of people who have experienced a loss of faith. As a way of understanding contemporary America, these examples are invaluable.

    Because Packer treats his four subjects with respect and sympathy, the reader comes to care about them and their fate.

    This rich collage of characters and events adds up to a devastating picture of a country in crisis.

Goodreads · Goodreads Community · 2013-05-21
superb 4.10

The book is a superb piece of journalism, with Packer writing like a dream. It offers vivid snapshots of people who have experienced a loss of faith in contemporary America.

Goodreads reviewers consistently praise 'The Unwinding' as a superb piece of journalism, highlighting George Packer's exceptional writing style. They appreciate the vivid snapshots of individuals who have experienced a loss of faith in contemporary America, making the book a compelling read. The reviewer also notes that those familiar with Packer's work in The New Yorker will find more of the same high-quality reporting and insightful analysis here. The book is seen as a powerful exploration of the American experience, capturing the essence of a nation in flux.

Quick quotes

    A superb piece of journalism. Packer writes like a dream and those who know him from his articles in The New Yorker will find more of his signature style here.

    The Unwinding offers vivid snapshots of people who have experienced a loss of faith. As a way of understanding contemporary America, these examples are invaluable.

    This book is cathartic if you've been uneasy, concerned, or downright hysterical about the current state of our country.

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