"The End of the Myth" by Greg Grandin explores the historical significance of the frontier in American identity, from early expansion to the present-day border wall. Grandin argues that America's constant expansion served as a way to avoid confronting internal conflicts, but recent events have closed this "gate of escape," leading to a resurgence of domestic issues. The book connects this shift to the rise of reactionary populism and the election of Trump. The border wall symbolizes the end of American exceptionalism, marking a new era of political polarization and nationalism.
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Metropolitan Books