MB Civic

“Culture of Fear” by Barry Glassner

There has never been another era in modern
history, even during wartime or the Great
Depression, when so many people have feared so
much. Three out of four Americans say they feel
more fearful today then they did twenty years
ago. The Culture of Fear describes the high costs
of living in a fear-ridden environment where
realism has become rarer than doors without
deadbolts. Why do we have so many fears these
days? Are we living in exceptionally dangerous
times? To watch the news, you’d certainly think
so, but Glassner demonstrates that it is our
perception of danger that has increased, not the
actual level of risk. The Culture of Fear is an
expose of the people and organizations that
manipulate our perceptions and profit from our
fears: politicians who win elections by
heightening concerns about crime and drug use
even as rates for both are declining; advocacy
groups that raise money by exaggerating the
prevalence of particular diseases; TV
newsmagazines that monger a new scare every week
to garner ratings. Glassner spells out the prices
we pay for social panics: the huge sums of money
that go to waste on unnecessary programs and
products as well as time and energy spent
worrying about our fears.