Monoculture

Winner of the George Orwell Award. One of The Atlantic's best books of the year.


As human beings, we've always told stories: stories about who we are, where
we come from, and where we're going. Now imagine that one of those stories
is taking over the others, narrowing our diversity and creating a
monoculture. Because of the rise of the economic story, six areas of your
world - your work, your relationships with others and the environment, your
community, your physical and spiritual health, your education, and your
creativity - are changing, or have already changed, in subtle and
not-so-subtle ways. And because how you think shapes how you act, the
monoculture isn't just changing your mind - it's changing your life.



"A smart and realistic guide to first recognizing the monoculture and the challenges of transcending its limitations." - Maria Popova, BrainPickings.org



"A thin, enrapturing gem. It's accessible, sensible - exactly the sort of book that should have (and still could + should!) take off and create a tiny little dent in books." - Kenyon Review



“I found myself reading non-stop, underlining like crazy…an astute
explanation about what I’ve been feeling recently, something I couldn’t put
my finger on. [Michaels] writes in clear, energetic prose that’s
thoughtful, engaging and unforced. She defines and analyzes without
judgment or insistence…a breath of fresh air…” - NPR



“…a singularly brilliant and accessible analysis of some of the fundamental
assumptions and driving principles of our time.” - Comment Magazine




“Neither a dreary observation of all the ways in which our economic
monoculture has thwarted our ability to live life fully and authentically
nor a blindly optimistic sticking-it-to-the-man kumbaya, Michaels offers a
smart and realistic guide to first recognizing the monoculture and the
challenges of transcending its limitations, then considering ways in which
we, as sentient and autonomous individuals, can move past its confines to
live a more authentic life within a broader spectrum of human values.” -
The Atlantic



“5 stars: The cause and effect of our world is more surprising than you’d
think. With intriguing notions about the driving ideas of stories in every
shape of our life, “Monoculture” is an incredibly fascinating way about how
the mind works and today’s consumer culture.” - Midwest Book Review




“If you just read one book this year, read this one…You won’t just be
considering the narrative of the culture in which you live, you’ll be
considering the everyday choices you make in your life. But the best part
of the story is that the author affords you the opportunity to pick up your
pen and demand a rewrite…A mind-altering work.” - BuriedInPrint.com