It caustically summarizes the state of the union and how many Americans perceived themselves in this post-WW I period. Mencken bluntly points out weaknesses in the American system where he sees them, and it is often a bit startling how easily many of his complaints from ninety years ago could be directly applied to our current government, media, religious institutions, and political process today. Be prepared for racism against American blacks and ethnic slurs against Jews and recent immigrants as part of the baggage that comes along in his cultural commentary from 1920.
