Discussion 1: "Bright-Sided" Good Vibes Only Barbara Ehrenreich in "Bright-Sided" discusses why optimism is such a strong part of American culture (page 523). What is the relationship, in Ehrenreich's view, between positive thinking and capitalism? How according to Ehrenreich, has positive thinking contributed to recent and current American problems and catastrophes? Discussion 2: "Celebrating Inequality" Celebrity montage George Packer explores why celebrities are such a big part of American culture and how their presence seems to only be increasing in "Celebrating Inequality"(page 539). How did celebrities become such a big part of American culture? What does Packer mean when he asserts that today a celebrity "evolves into a persona, then a brand. then and empire, with the business imperative of grow or die" (para. 6)? Discussion 3: "The Shock of Education: How College Corrupts" College "The Shock of Education: How College Corrupts" page (543) by Alfred Lumbrano looks at the effects of college on first-in-family college students. Are you the first in your family to go to college? If so, do your experiences match up with what Lubrano is saying? Why or why not? What does Richard Rodriguez mean by saying, "There's a brutality to education" (para. 6)? Discussion 4: "How an Angry National Mood is Reflected in Pop Culture" In "How An Angry National Mood is Reflected in Pop Culture" (page 531) Jeffrey Fleishman sees a connection between the current anger and division in the American mindset and popular culture. What differences does Fleishman find between the anger expressed in 1960s popular culture and that of today, and how does he explain those differences? How can Americans be both "bright-sided" as Ehrenreich says in her essay, and bursting with anger at the same time? Discussion 5: "Why the Upper Middle Class Might be the Real Target of Today's Anger" McMansion Jim Tankersley continues looking at anger in American culture in his essay "Why the Upper Middle Class Might Be the Real Target of Today's Anger" (page 536). Why, according to economist Stephen Rose, are poor and middle-class Americans angry at the upper-middle class but not the upper class? Tankersley relies on economic data to propose his answer to the question posed in his title. How do the statistics he presents affect your response to this selection?