In an era of unprecedented prosperity, America is stuck. Our leaders are failing us, our institutions are crumbling, and our society is gripped by a sense of listlessness and disillusionment. The COVID-19 pandemic has merely exposed the deep-seated problems that have been festering beneath the surface of our seemingly successful society. In The Decadent Society, Ross Douthat argues that our era is defined by a pervasive sense of disappointment and stagnation, as if we have reached the end of history and are left with nothing but repetition and decay. From the emptiness of our ideological debates to the escapism of our popular culture, from the decline of meaningful relationships to the rise of substance abuse, Douthat diagnoses the symptoms of a civilization in crisis. But he also offers a way forward, suggesting that our decadence may ultimately be the catalyst for a rebirth or a revolution that will allow us to rediscover the vitality and purpose that we have lost.