In the end, however, this book leaves you with a pretty bleak picture of the citizenry produced by a culture that lives so determinedly in the present.
Now the voices are supposed to sound more natural and conversational, less determinedly perky and presentational.
Esther Dyson, an influential industry analyst and publisher whose newsletter Release 1.0 is determinedly focused on the intersection of the present and the future, is host of the conference.
But if the face that Literary Death Match presents to the public is determinedly chaotic and endearingly amateurish, then its rise demonstrates a rather steelier business acumen.
With Nashville about 60 miles away, Bonnaroo presented other first-class string bands, like the determinedly radical Punch Brothers, whose set included a version of Radiohead's "Morning Bell," and the traditionalist Steep Canyon Rangers, who backed up the banjo-playing comedian Steve Martin.
The great causes - Indian freedom, social justice - are present, but they are handled in a different way from that of a more determinedly political novelist.
It is always easy, however, to distinguish between the determinedly commercial music that Deena's Svengali promotes and the authentic black soul music the film presents as a countervailing artistic force.
Belfort is determinedly sexist.
But Spain remained determinedly neutral.
She was determinedly litigious.
