Quiet Street: On American Privilege

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A bold exploration of the American elite, this work reveals how the ruling class, even with good intentions, perpetuates cycles of wealth, power, and injustice. Growing up on New York City's Upper East Side, Nick McDonell experienced a life of luxury, from sailing lessons in the Hamptons to school galas at the Met. After serving as a war correspondent in Iraq and Afghanistan, he returns to his privileged upbringing with unflinching honesty. Through vivid depictions of summer safaris, winter ski trips, and schoolyard dynamics, McDonell meticulously examines how wealth and power are hoarded and passed down through generations. He highlights the exclusion of outsiders—the poor, non-white communities, and suburbanites—who remain unaware of the mechanisms that sustain this elite class. With searing precision and a deeply human touch, the narrative delves into the challenges posed by America's one-percenters, whose aspirations for a more just world often fall short. The work raises critical questions about the nature of power, the identity of those who wield it, and the potential for sharing it, all through the lens of personal experience and cultural reflection.