How can the West rediscover its authentic spirit? Exploring the period from 1899 to 1945--from the end of the US frontier and the writing of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to the conclusion of World War II and the dropping of the atom bomb--Luigi Morelli traces the events that has led the United States to become the world's dominating imperial force. America, he demonstrates, is deeply connected to Britain, Germany, and Eastern Europe, and particularly to Russia. Yet despite the tragic collective histories of these countries, there is hope for the future, but only if America can claim its true task. Searching for the Spirit of the West challenges many of the falsehoods that pass for mainstream history. Utilizing a wealth of documented evidence from the research of overlooked historians, economists, social, and spiritual thinkers, the author takes a symptomatic view of the past, revealing hidden, long-term trends. This approach offers a new understanding of events, such as the rise of Nazism, the Great Depression, the new Deal, and even the roles of banking and clandestine "brotherhoods" in world history. Morelli also appraises The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in parallel with America's cultural achievements. Through imagination, L. Frank Baum's contemporary fairytale enables us to intuit the true mission of the West and its potential contribution to world culture, both now and in the future.