NYTimes article on Susan Jacoby book, “The Age of American Unreason.”, where she takes a look at not only Americans lack of interest in essential scientific, civic, cultural, and general knowledge; but also why they don’t think it matters.

“This is just like Pearl Harbor,” one of the men said.
The other asked, “What is Pearl Harbor?”
“That was when the Vietnamese dropped bombs in a harbor, and it started the Vietnam War,” the first man replied.

At that moment, Ms. Jacoby said, “I decided to write this book.”