Chris Hedges’s profound and unsettling examination of America in crisis is “an exceedingly…provocative book, certain to arouse controversy, but offering a point of view that needs to be heard” (Booklist), about how bitter hopelessness and malaise have resulted in a culture of sadism and hate. America, says Pulitzer Prize­–winning reporter Chris Hedges, is convulsed by an array of pathologies that have arisen out of profound hopelessness, a bitter despair, and a civil society that has ceased to function. The opioid crisis; the retreat into gambling to cope with economic distress; the pornification of culture; the rise of magical thinking; the celebration of sadism, hate, and plagues of suicides are the physical manifestations of a society that is being ravaged by corporate pillage and a failed democracy. As our society unravels, we also face global upheaval caused by catastrophic climate change. All these ills presage a frightening reconfiguration of the nation and the planet. Donald Trump rode this disenchantment to power. In his “forceful and direct” (Publishers Weekly) America: The Farewell Tour, Hedges argues that neither political party, now captured by corporate power, addresses the systemic problem. Until our corporate coup d’état is reversed these diseases will grow and ravage the country. “With sharply observed detail, Hedges writes a requiem for the American dream” (Kirkus Reviews) and seeks to jolt us out of our complacency while there is still time.

United States of LEGO takes readers on a journey across America that has never been seen before. Photographer Jeff Friesen composes artful LEGO brick dioramas, each revealing a scene with a witty caption that celebrates what makes every American state unique, incorporating toy-scale monuments, colorful citizens going about their daily lives, and new spins on state history. Here is a fresh vision of every state assembled with bricks, from Washington’s steaming rivers of espresso to the ancient reptiles in Florida (we’re not talking about alligators here). Brick Minnesotans tirelessly shovel snow but are ready to pose with a friendly “okey-dokey!” Giving readers even more than a cross-country tour, United States of LEGO reveals intriguing secrets of the states for the first time. Have you ever wondered who extinguished Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara’s passion in Georgia, what’s fishing for fishermen in Alaska, or how NASCAR drivers earn extra spending money in North Carolina? The answers will surprise and delight you. Readers will also find thrilling scenes from history re-created in meticulous detail. Who can forget Lewis and Clark’s intrepid manservant, Gaston? Okay, the history textbooks did, but not United States of LEGO. And what ever happened to the giant turkeys that once roamed Massachusetts? Your education may have missed these tender birds whose fate is detailed here. Every captioned photograph is infused with good-natured humor, and occasional ill-humored nature, such as the Maryland crabs who are through with being lunch. Speaking of lunch, the famous Kentucky Frying Chicken awaits your order within these pages. Don’t delay! Good citizens of all ages will enjoy exploring every state’s unique character in enchanting LEGO dioramas.

Pack a bag and prepare to go to some of the most interesting places in the 50 states. Learn about each state’s flag, motto, fun fast facts, and more as you fill up your passport crisscrossing the country! From Native American history to how immigration impacted the nation, you will explore some of the sites and stories that make this vast land remarkable. Did You Know: Montgomery, Alabama, was the site of the first citywide electric trolley system in 1886. Tennessee is home to the largest underground lake in the United States, the Lost Sea, discovered by a 13-year-old boy in 1905. Ohio was home to the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869. Benny Benson, an orphan, designed Alaska’s distinctive state flag in 1927. Montana’s Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park is the only place in North America that allows water to flow in three directions — the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and Hudson Bay. Texas is the only state to have flags of six different countries fly over it, and it was an independent nation from 1836 to 1846.