The essay "Values Vanish Into Thin Air" is based on the book "The Catcher In The Rye"(J.D. Salinger) and analyzes how Holden Caulfield criticizes the modern society in different ways

VALUES VANISH INTO THIN AIR The Catcher in the Rye negatively criticizes society's way of living and the "American Dream" most people look for their whole life, although for the majority of the people this remains a utopia just out of reach. Modern society very nearly lost both its ideals and its sense of direction. We have developed into a society of "phony" philistines. All of society is based on a superficiality which makes it …

…which is based on their mendacity and belief in the "American Dream". The power of money destroyed society's important values which were responsible for a balanced, fruitful life. Instead, it set norms which people try to reach, although reaching this will not make life any happier. Everybody fights for acceptance, whatever it takes to be a part of a modern society, whereby superficiality rises until society cannot lose anything anymore and drowns in its wealth.