Research Catalog

The American way of life : a cultural history

Title
The American way of life : a cultural history / Lawrence R. Samuel.
Author
Samuel, Lawrence R.
Publication
Madison : Fairleigh Dickinson University Press ; Lanham, Maryland : Copublished by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., [2017]

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StatusFormatAccessCall NumberItem Location
TextUse in library JFE 17-7353Schwarzman Building - Milstein Division Room 121

Details

Description
xvi, 155 pages; 24 cm
Summary
"Telling the full story of the American way of life (or more simply the American way) in the United States over the course of the last century reveals key insights that add to our understanding of American culture. [The author] argues that since the term was popularized in the 1930s, the American way has served as the primary guiding mythology or national ethos of the United States. More than that, however, this work shows that the American way has represented many things to many people, making the mythology a useful device for anyone wishing to promote a particular agenda that serves his or her interests. A consumerist lifestyle supported by a system based in free enterprise has been the ideological backbone of the American way, but the term has been attached to everything from farming to baseball to barbecue. There really is no single, identifiable American way and never has been--it becomes clear after tracing its history--making it a kind of Zelig of belief systems. If our underlying philosophy or set of values is amorphous and nebulous, then so is our national identity and character, [the author] concludes, implying that the meaning of America is elastic and accommodating to many interpretations."--
Series Statement
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press series in American history and culture
Subjects
Genre/Form
History.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
The epic of America -- What I am fighting for -- People of plenty -- The making of a counter culture -- The poverty of affluence -- The world is flat.
Call Number
JFE 17-7353
ISBN
  • 9781683930822
  • 1683930827
LCCN
  • 2017011313
  • 40027281406
OCLC
980188360
Author
Samuel, Lawrence R., author.
Title
The American way of life : a cultural history / Lawrence R. Samuel.
Publisher
Madison : Fairleigh Dickinson University Press ; Lanham, Maryland : Copublished by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., [2017]
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Series
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press series in American history and culture
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Chronological Term
Since 1945
Other Standard Identifier
40027281406
Research Call Number
JFE 17-7353
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