Inthis“crisp,engaging,andverysmart“(TheNewYorkTimesBookReview)work,TheWashingtonPost’sPulitzerPrize-winningbookcriticdigsintobooksoftheTrumperaandfindsthatourresponsetothispresidencyoftenreflectsthesamepolarization,contradictions,andresentmentsthatmadeitpossible.Itisanironyofouragethatamanwhorarelyreadshasunleashedanonslaughtofbooksabouthistenureandhistime.Dissectionsofthewhiteworkingclass.Manifestosofpoliticalresistance.Worksonidentity,gender,andmigration.Memoirsonraceandprotest.RevelationsofWhiteHousemayhem.Warningsoverthefutureofconservatism,progressivism,andofAmericandemocracyitself.AsabookcriticforTheWashingtonPost,CarlosLozadahasreadjustaboutallofthem.InWhatWereWeThinking,hedrawsonsome150recentvolumestoexplorehowweunderstandourselvesintheTrumpera.Lozada’scharactersarenotthepresident,hisadvisers,orhisantagonistsbutthepoliticalandculturalideasatplay--andatstake--inAmerica.JustasTrump’selectionupendedthecountry’spoliticalestablishment,itshockeditsintellectualclass.ThoughsomeofthebooksoftheTrumperaskillfullyilluminatethechallengesandtransformationsthenationfaces,toomanyworksaremoredefensivethanincisive,morerighteousthanright.Lozadaoffersaprovocativeargument:Whetherwrittenbyliberalsorconservatives,activistsoracademics,truebelieversorharshcritics,thebooksofTrump’sAmericaarevulnerabletothesamefailuresofimaginationthatgaveusthispresidencyinthefirstplace.InWhatWereWeThinking,Lozada’sselectionsrangefrombestsellingtitlestolittle-knownworks,fromthoroughlyreportedaccountsoftheadministrationtopartisanpolemics,frommeditationsonthefateoftruthtomemoirsaboutenduring--orenabling--theTrumppresidency.Healsoidentifiesbooksthatchallengeentrenchedassumptionsandshiftourvantagepoints,thebooksthatbesthelpusmakesenseofthisera.Theresultisan“elegantyetlacerating“(TheGuardian)intellectualhistoryofourtime,aworkthattranscendsdailyheadlinestodiscernhowwegothereandhowwethoughthere.WhatWereWeThinkingwillhelptoday’sreadersunderstandAmerica,andwillhelptomorrow’sreaderslookbackandunderstandus.
