The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapters 5 through 8 Summary

Chapters 5 through 8 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 5: Lost Horizon

The Liberal Arts students of decades ago were able to get entry jobs in the market place. But in today's economy, those entry level jobs are non-existent and the Liberal Arts graduates are fundamentally unskilled and unable to attain higher employment. These individuals were taught by their liberal parents that they were too good to perform manual labor and would not think of becoming electricians or mechanics. What has resulted is a plethora of meaningless jobs such as "life" consultants, feng shui experts and the like.

There is a stampede of these unskilled individuals into film schools because it is an acceptable pursuit and it is not "work" per se. Like The Lost Horizon, by John Hilton, these liberal youths picture a perfect world without disease or stress and where all inhabitants are artists and philosophers. Only mid-way through the story does the protagonist, Hugh...
(read more)