The American Dream: A Cultural HistoryThere is no better way to understand America than by understanding the cultural history of the American Dream. Rather than just a powerful philosophy or ideology, the Dream is thoroughly woven into the fabric of everyday life, playing a vital role in who we are, what we do, and why we do it. No other idea or mythology has as much influence on our individual and collective lives. Tracing the history of the phrase in popular culture, Samuel gives readers a field guide to the evolution of our national identity over the last eighty years. Samuel tells the story chronologically, revealing that there have been six major eras of the mythology since the phrase was coined in 1931. Relying mainly on period magazines and newspapers as his primary source material, the author demonstrates that journalists serving on the front lines of the scene represent our most valuable resource to recover unfiltered stories of the Dream. The problem, however, is that it does not exist, the Dream is just that, a product of our imagination. That it is not real ultimately turns out to be the most significant finding about the American Drea, and what makes the story most compelling. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
achieve Adams’s Ameri American Dream Amway Angeles argued Asian Americans baby boomers Barack Obama become believed better century Chicago Tribune citizens civil country’s cultural decades democracy Depression despite dollars economic example fact felt film freedom future going happy hard Harper’s Hartford Courant hope Horatio Alger Hugh Hefner Ibid idea ideal immigrants individuals James Truslow Adams John June land living Los Angeles man’s McMansions middle class mythology nation nation’s one’s opportunity past people’s percent perhaps phrase play political popular postwar president pursuit Reagan reality realized Republican rich Richard Florida rise Robert Sept social society speech story suburbs success television thing thinking thirtysomething thought tion Today told true United upward mobility vision Wall Street Journal Washington Post wealth wrote York