Scott Alexander reviews 'America Against America', a 1988 book by Chinese political scientist Wang Huning, analyzing his observations of US society and institutions after a brief stay in Iowa. Longer summary

Scott Alexander reviews 'America Against America', a book written by Wang Huning, a Chinese political scientist who spent six months in Iowa in 1988 and later became a top CCP official. The book presents Wang's observations and analysis of American society, culture, and institutions, often focusing on aspects that seem strange or contradictory to a Chinese perspective. Scott notes that while Wang makes some insightful observations, he also sometimes uncritically accepts American narratives about their own problems. The review explores Wang's views on American regulations, social relationships, politics, culture, and perceived decadence, as well as his prediction that Japan would overtake the US economically. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander creates a humorous 'Puritan' checklist to rank historical American figures, lamenting the loss of this eccentric, morally serious archetype in modern American culture. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'Puritanism' as a cultural archetype, distinct from its religious connotations. He creates a humorous checklist to identify 'Puritan' traits in historical figures, focusing on characteristics like eccentricity, moral seriousness, inventiveness, and New England origins. The post ranks five historical Americans by their 'Puritan' qualities, with Benjamin Franklin scoring highest. Scott notes that this archetype, once a significant part of American identity, has largely disappeared from modern culture. He expresses disappointment at this loss, suggesting that the 'Puritan' ideal could serve as a positive national identity to aspire to, in contrast to less appealing stereotypes. Shorter summary