AMERICA’S LOVELESS AGE

In this nonfiction book, a journalist investigates romantic strains in the Donald Trump era.

According to a 2018 statement posted on the popular dating site eHarmony, “Politics are on the minds of daters more than ever.” Indeed, to many adults looking for romance, writes Terry in this intriguing study of contemporary American life, “more than in any other political era, a vote for Trump told more about the person than their dating app profile would dare admit.” With an academic background in sociology, the author builds on his 2013 book, Marriage War, about America’s declining marriage rates, and offers readers an in-depth glimpse into the nation’s “Loveless Age,” when “singleton” has become a defining trait among late millennials and Generation Zers. In addition to dissecting the politically fraught terrain of dating in a time when Trumpian views continue to reverberate even after his presidency, the book analyzes myriad factors that complicate intimacy in the 21st century, from the “pornification of culture” to Covid-19 restrictions and social distancing. The volume is divided into three parts, with the first section showing how political divisions have taken a central role in stifling romance, from ending marriages to causing users to swipe left on Tinder based on a person’s politics. Part 2 delves into competing ideas among women, exploring those who adhere to “traditional femininity’s” goal of “marrying-up to a ‘good catch’ ” versus individuals who emphasize “boosting women’s opportunities in the modern workworld.” The book’s final section looks at the role of economic change when traditionally male jobs (such as trades or factory work) are in decline and women are emerging as the family breadwinners in a postindustrial economy. A common link across all sections is how Trump tapped into latent misogyny and patriarchal resentment against feminism to build his base as well as how nearly half of America’s White women “would choose to vote for an odious poster-boy of the patriarchy.” Though at times repetitive, the volume is written in an engaging style that blends an accessible narrative with solid, interdisciplinary research.

A thoughtful examination of a topic that affects the lives of millions of “loveless” Americans.