Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

The New York Times is running a piece on Susan Jacoby and her latest book, The Age of American Unreason. In her book, Jacoby despairs on the anti-intellectualism and anti-rationalism of Americans. Not only are Americans ignorant of "essential scientific, civic and cultural knowledge, she said, but they also don’t think it matters." So who's to blame? Jacoby points to the education system -- with Americans spending more years in school, but learning less; and, religious fundamentalism. Sounds like a book Americans need to read.

Update: Feb. 19, 2008

• Susan Jacoby writes of the Dumbing of America in the Washington Post. Check it out.