The Free World

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In his follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Metaphysical Club, Louis Menand presents an intellectual and cultural history of the postwar years, emphasizing that the Cold War was not merely a power struggle but also a contest of ideas—economic, political, artistic, and personal. Menand chronicles American culture from the end of World War II to Vietnam, illustrating how evolving economic, technological, and social forces shaped creative expression. He explores the shift from elitism and skepticism toward a new sensibility characterized by experimentation and cultural phenomena like the Beatles. The concept of "freedom" is examined in relation to various causes, including anti-communism, civil rights, and radical self-expression through art and crime. With his trademark wit and insight, Menand immerses readers in the vibrant scenes of Hannah Arendt's Manhattan, Sartre and Beauvoir's Paris, and the innovative environments of Black Mountain College and Memphis, where Elvis Presley emerged. He delves into the popularity of French existentialism, the rise of abstract expressionism and pop art, and the influential figures of the era, such as Ginsberg, Baldwin, and Sontag. Highlighting the transatlantic exchange of ideas, he reveals how European influences enriched American culture. By the end of the Vietnam era, while the U.S. government had lost moral authority, American culture had gained respect and admiration. This book vi