Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily on our way to nowhere in particular

I recently read "The Geography of Nowhere," by James Howard Kunstler. It examines the landscape of America, from the earliest settlements until today. Kunstler details the rise and fall of small-town America, in particular the demise of our physical and cultural landscape in the 20th century. Since World War II, America has been on a slippery slope to ruin, he argues, because of the automobile. The rise of suburbia means the death of communities. We are leading empty, isolated, destructive lives. Developers, car companies, zoning laws -- all are contributing to our "geography of nowhere."

Midway through the book, after extolling Portland, Oregon, as one of the few exemplary American cities, Kunstler visits three places that serve as an escape from the modern landscape crisis -- Atlantic City, New Jersey; Woodstock, Vermont; and Walt Disney World, Florida! You can imagine my interest in this chapter. Kunstler does not hide his hatred for Disney World. While some of his critiques have merit (turning over real dollars for Disney Dollars! rides that empty out into gift shops!), others are somewhat outdated (Fast Past has helped with long lines, and Tomorrowland received a makeover). He wrote the book in 1993, so it's amazing to read that it cost him only $32.50 to get in to the Magic Kingdom! (Today it will cost you $75.) Other observations of Disney sound like a high falutin undergraduate term paper: the ferry ride across the Seven Seas Lagoon is like crossing the River Styx, and the entry procedure into the park is like a Protestant's vision of entering heaven. My favorite was his obsession with "the theme of death and mayhem" as seen in attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and the shoot-outs of Frontierland. We can only imagine the ranting that would have ensued had he chosen to go on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

Overall, the book was enlightening, if somewhat depressing. He likes the idea of Main Street U.S.A. but is disappointed by the souvenir shops behind the architectural facade. Disney guests say that Main Street makes them feel good. Kunstler writes, "Disney pretends so hard to be wholesome. The customers go along with this falsehood, because it makes them feel better about themselves, the same way that Main Street U.S.A. makes them feel better about the scary places where they actually live." Hear, hear!

If you too are intrigued by Kunstler's theories, I would recommend his new novel, "World Made by Hand," as a more accessible work. It speaks to all the same ideas, but with engaging characters and a gripping plot. It's the story of a not-too-distant future in which there is no more oil, no more electricity, and no more order. It's the end of the road on which we're currently driving.