Money, murder, and the American dream

In April 1989 a gang of teenagers attacked and raped a jogger in New York City's Central Park. This horrific crime was dubbed "wilding" by the press. Charles Derber maintains that the chilling antisocial mentality behind this offense is far more widespread than we would like to believe, a symptom of a growing "wilding epidemic." Through examples such as Charles Stuart, who allegedly murdered his wife for insurance money, Derber asserts that it is those most devoted to realizing the American Dream who are often the most ruthless. Wilding is becoming one way to make it in America today. Derber broadens the term "wilding" to mean any relentless pursuit of gratification or self-interest at the expense of others. He shows that its less extreme forms, neither violent nor criminal, have become commonplace and are even considered necessary to get ahead. He identifies startling links between economic wilding on Wall Street, political wilding in Washington, emotional wilding in families, and criminal wilding on the street. Wilding starts at the top. Derber analyzes recent Wall Street scams such as the S & L scandal and the current banking crisis. He focuses on Washington, too--to examine the motives behind America's role in the Gulf War and to discover how recent government policy has fueled the wilding ethic. As wilding spreads in businesses, schools, and families, Derber shows, it creates a domestic crisis that could culminate in the unraveling of America's social fabric. Derber's far-reaching and passionate final chapter demonstrates how American citizens hold the power to rethink the American Dream and reconstruct a more compassionate and caring society. Money, Murder and the American Dream is a boldly provocative book with an urgent message for our time.