Today, as the dominant species, humans live in a different world with much less to fear. This is particularly true of Americans, many of whom are comfortably ensconced in a world of privilege. However, with many of the previous dangers no longer valid, Americans still find plenty to fear.

This paper examines the peculiarities of American fear and how fears develop, as articulated by Barry Glassner in The Culture of Fear and by Joe Feagin and Eileen O'Brien in White Men on Race. This review looks at how they offer complementary explanations regarding how fear grows in a society of affluence and poverty.

The first part of this report uses Glassner's The Culture of Fear to examine both the strange things that Americans are afraid of and the reasons behind this unwarranted fear. The next part of the paper then focuses o

Many of the subjects in this book mistakenly believe that racism no longer exists. Therefore, they see anti-discrimination efforts as unnecessary, or even as "reverse racism." Therefore, when black people decry institutional racism, they are quickly painted as troublemakers. The subjects interviewed believed that people who raise discrimination issues are playing the "race card." When black people are unable to reap the benefits of social mobility, many white males therefore see black people at fault, since they are "all criminals."

While Glassner's book surveys many unfounded American fears, Feagin and O'Brien White Men on Race, Joe Feagin and Eileen O'Brien focus one fear of a specific segment of the population. The authors interview 100 elite white men who live in a "white bubble." These men live in worlds of wealth and privilege, and hardly ever interact with people of color. Despite their segregation and lack of meaningful contact, these white men have very strong opinions about African Americans, particularly in relation to crime.

n race-based fear, as discussed by Glassner in his chapter entitled "Black Men" and by Feagin and O'Brien in White Men on Race. It looks at the reasons behind these fears, and why such misconceptions persist despite evidence pointing to the contrary.

Feagin and O'Brien, on the other hand, opt for a more qualitative approach. White Men on Race is more focused on race relations, specifically from the point of view of the privileged elite. In contrast to Glassner, they also employ qualitative research methods by interviewing a chosen group of subjects and interpreting the results. Where Glassner relied on statistics, Feagin and O'Brien relied on interviews and direct quotations.

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Approximate Word count = 1660
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)