Contradictions and similaraties between "Our Sprawling, Supersize Utopia" by David Brooks and Lewis Lapham's essay "Who and what is American?"

Suburban Lies In his essay "Our Sprawling, Supersize Utopia" David Brooks defines the American dream as an idyllic world that is comparable to Lewis Lapham's essay "Who and what is American?". The American dream is not just a shared imagination, but a fantasy. Brook's humorous descriptions help him describe and critique the many suburban and ex-urban communities today. He characterizes the American dream as very unrealistic and argues that a our dreams cause a "Paradise …

…new future that will be in parallel with their ideals and dreams. Never reaching their dreams, these people lead their empty suburban life in denial, hoping that one day they will be truthfully happy. According to Lapham, the denial and the lies make a person weak. To be courageous a person would have to be truthfully. If Americans become more realistic with their dreams they will be able to achieve their goals making them stronger.