The End of the Myth by Greg Grandin Summary

The End of the Myth examines the concept of the American frontier as a symbol of limitless expansion and progress, arguing that its collapse has fueled modern political divisions. Greg Grandin traces how this myth justified imperialism, globalization, and systemic inequality while masking domestic conflicts. The book connects historical frontier ideologies to contemporary debates over border walls and nationalism, offering a critique of American exceptionalism.

This book is ideal for readers interested in U.S. history, political theory, or socio-cultural analysis. Historians, policymakers, and students of American studies will gain insights into how frontier narratives shaped national identity. It also appeals to those exploring themes like nationalism, globalization, and the roots of modern political polarization.

Grandin posits that the frontier myth allowed America to externalize its conflicts through expansion, avoiding reckoning with issues like slavery and inequality. He links the myth’s decline to a turn toward isolationism and xenophobia, symbolized by border walls. The book also critiques how “exemptionalism” replaced exceptionalism, divorcing the U.S. from historical accountability.

Grandin argues that the closure of the literal frontier in the 19th century led to metaphorical expansions through imperialism and globalization. When these too reached limits, the U.S. shifted inward, manifesting in policies like border militarization. This trajectory, he claims, explains contemporary crises like Trump-era nationalism.

The book won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and was a finalist in the history category. It has been praised for its timely analysis and scholarly rigor, cementing Grandin’s reputation as a leading historian of American ideology.

He dismantles exceptionalism by showing how the frontier myth obscured violence, racism, and exploitation—both domestically and abroad. Grandin highlights how expansionism served as an “escape valve” for social tensions, delaying confrontations with systemic injustice.

The book spans four centuries, citing:

• 19th-century westward expansion and Indigenous displacement.
• 20th-century imperial interventions in Latin America.
• Post-WWII globalization and neoliberal policies.
• 21st-century border wall debates under Trump.

Like Fordlandia and Empire of Necessity, this book explores capitalism and power dynamics, but with a sharper focus on mythmaking. It expands on themes from Empire’s Workshop, linking U.S. foreign policy in Latin America to broader ideological shifts.

Some scholars argue Grandin oversimplifies early colonial history by omitting pre-Columbian demographics and disease impacts. Others note the book’s bleak tone but acknowledge its relevance to understanding modern populism.

He views the wall as a physical manifestation of the frontier myth’s failure—a desperate attempt to restore clarity in an era of perceived limitlessness. It represents a shift from outward expansion to defensive nationalism.

• “The frontier promised escape, but walls enforce confrontation.”
• “Exceptionalism became exemptionalism—a refusal to be bound by reality.”
  These lines encapsulate Grandin’s argument about myth’s collapse and its consequences.

As debates over immigration, climate limits, and global instability persist, Grandin’s analysis offers a framework for understanding how nations confront—or avoid—existential challenges. Its insights remain critical for decoding ongoing political and cultural divides.