I think asking this question is essential, and must go with another question: Does Jacoby check that it's just you, and to what extent?"An equally puzzling question is why us."
Things like anti-intellectualism and ignorance are only relative.
You are ignorant if other countries with the same standard of living are globally more knowledgeable.
I have only read a few pages from Jacoby's book, but does she write a book about Americans with no references to the rest of the world to help understand what is typically American?
And if so, is she really better than the people she criticizes?