For too many in the U.S., Arianna Huffington said Thursday night, the American dream has become the American nightmare.

One hundred million people are worse off than their parents were, she said, speaking before a Penn State audience in Eisenhower Auditorium. The country now ranks 10th in the world in upward mobility, placing it behind France.

That's like "France being behind the U.S. in croissants and afternoon sex," Huffington said. "It just completely doesn't make sense."

The crowd, estimated at 600 people, appeared to agree.

In her hour-long appearance -- part of the university Distinguished Speaker Series -- Huffington lamented the overall state of leadership in the U.S. and offered a few remedies. The Greek-born author, commentator and media executive punctuated it all with her trademark wit -- including ex-husband mockery, sex jokes and self-deprecation.

"There's a lot of leadership dormant in people," she said. "And I think inspiration and examples are (a) way to draw it out."

To that end, Huffington said, the national website she co-founded -- The Huffington Post -- has built a good-news-only section. And the organization will encourage Penn State students to contribute to its ramped-up coverage of the university Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon later this month, she said.

Huffington encouraged audience members Thursday night to look inward -- to themselves -- for leadership, to be bold and to take risks. She condemned what she termed conventional leaders' over-reliance on public-opinion polls, saying true leadership doesn't go for the easiest options.

True leadership also requires the abilities to hear whispers, to see around corners and to anticipate crises before they become crises, Huffington said. Society needs more empathy and nurturing in its upper ranks, too, she said.

She said those qualities tend to be prominent in women.

"I think women may have to lead the way to redefine leadership," said Huffington, 61.

She put an additional emphasis on the value of sleep, including midday naps -- which are encouraged at The Huffington Post headquarters. Research shows that a nonstop work cycle actually impedes productivity and work efficiency, she said. She suggested that leaders' irrational actions often can be traced back to exhaustion and self-imposed pressure.

"When you renew yourself," Huffington said, "you actually become more efficient."

Beyond that, rest yields better alertness and clarity of thought -- both necessities for strong leadership, she said.

The author of 13 books, Huffington, of southern California, continues to lead The Huffington Post as its editor-in-chief and has emerged as a social activist, as well. (Click on the large image above to launch more photos from her Penn State visit.)

Next in the Distinguished Speaker Series is Aron Ralston. Stranded in a Utah canyon in 2003, he severed his own right forearm to save his life. His talk is scheduled for 8 p.m. April 5 in Eisenhower Auditorium.

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