This is a kind of narrowly focused history of a specific American penchant for the belief in the completely implausible and fantasy (ie unsupported by empirical evidence) by a journalist and novelist. For the most part, I think it makes a lot of sense and takes on a thesis that it supports with a ton of evidence and even more examples. It begins with the ways in which America as a continent was created, mythically, out of whole cloth, lies, speculation, and overly generous readings […]