The Age of Great Dreams

by David Farber, Eric Foner

In this book, David Farber grounds our understanding of the extraordinary history of the 1960s by linking the events of that era to our country's grand projects of previous decades. Farber's important study, based on years of research in archives and oral histories as well as in historical literature, explores Vietnam, the Civil Rights Act, the War on Poverty, the entertainment business, the drug culture, and much more.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Politics, School, 20th Century, Textbooks

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

About the author

David Farber is the Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of History at the University of Kansas.

Reviews

[Stephanie MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for my 1960's class in school. I have to say this book was actually quite pleasant and something I would have read in my own personal time. The way facts are presented are honest and fair, while also being written in such a way that makes learning fun! I like how the author didn't have a "hidden tone" that favored one side over the other as I have noticed in other educational books. This was an overall accurate and unbiased approach to understanding all the amazing things that took place in the 1960's of US history. Well done!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was part of a History class and it wonderful. You can read it like a novel and there is so much info in it about all aspects of the 60s and how it shaped american thinking. I esspecialy liked how Farber take a no spin look at Kennedy and LBJ. I had a similar view towards LBJ as most Americans do, he was a gun toten Texan. But in fact, LBJ got a lot done and if he was here now we would be thanking god for such an amazing President.

[Jacob · Rating 4 out of 5]

That’s nuts!! For real that’s insane. Crazy decade. Boomers had some stuff going on, huh?

[Emily Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!! Not only was it extremely informative, it wasn't dull and it really hit the nail on the head with a lot of the issues that were discussed. I wish I had David Farber as a professor!

[Sandra Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best big-picture books I've read about the earthquake-like series of events that coalesced in the 1960's to foment the world and culture we live in today. When you're able to back out from the trees and see the forest, it's easy to see how we got from there to here, because all the seeds of the world we live in now were planted then.

My only issue is with the title of the book. I don't see great dreams in the 1960's.

I see naive idealism that clashed with default human nature and was destined for failure.

I see the inept governments, the sleazy politics and inability to be honest and to do things anywhere near the right way (the prevalent human condition, IMO) that I became aware of in my late teens in the 1980's (Don Henley's "End of the Innocence" always kind of sums up the whole mess of governments, politicians, and dishonesty, greed, corruption, and total untrustworthiness that is the only thing we humans seem to be capable of and really good at) that has always been the way humans do things, but was finally brought out of the secrecy of backrooms and into the open.

I see more chaos than anything because here were the roots of "it's all about me" and every little faction operated independently and pushed their own ideas and their own agendas irrespective and unconcerned about the larger needs and world around them.

Unfortunately, with time, we humans have gone on to perfect this selfish, myopic, and self-absorbed approach to our time on this planet. It ain't looking good for the home team, kids.

[Craig Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent synthetic history of the 1960s in the U.S., moving from the nuclear shadows and rising consumerism of the early decade through the rising energy of the Civil Rights Movement and Great Society to the tragic impact of Vietnam, the chaos of the riots, and the rise of Nixon, speaking in the name of a silent majority willing to vote against its own economic interests. It's probably conceptually impossible to do justice to all of the cross-currents and complexities, but for the most part Farber presents a relatively balanced image of the decade, which he views from a center-liberal perspective. At times, I wanted him to be more nuanced, as in his discussion of Malcolm X, which slides over the last year of Malcolm's life rapidly. Similarly, his treatment of the Gulf of Tonkin is much less critical than I would have been. Part of that may be because Farber was writing in the early 1990s and didn't have access to some information that's emerged subsequently. I don't know of a better short book summing up the decade; most of the others are much more partisan, and therefor more interesting and truer to the spirit of the decade. But there's a place for this kind of book, especially for those who need a general outline of events and personalities.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Farber gives us an excellent overview of the culture of the 1960s, He doesn't get bogged down in too many specifics but gives an excellent look at the major movements of the 60s: anti-communism, civil rights, the Vietnam War and the anti-war movement, the war on poverty, the women's movement - a pretty complete big picture. The fact that it is a very readable account certainly helps.

[Joann Calabrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an older book, written in the 1990s about the 1960s. I found it at a used book store and I'm so happy I did. Farber shines a light on a lot of complicated issues from the 60s, and shows how they were rooted in the post WWII world and explains some of the tragic decisions that were made about Viet Nam. The book also makes it easy to see the seeds of some of our current problems.

I reccomend it!

[Kristina Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this my junior year of college. It should be required reading at all universities and colleges. The book sheds great light on all things 1960s, a decade of critical mass in the United States, and beyond.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great social history of the 1960s. Political history, too. Taught it for a class.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

nothing crazy, good insight on mid century america

[Serge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent one volume history of the 1960s. I am using this book for introductory lectures for a 1960s Project which my juniors are completing this month

[Roy McCullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good survey and synthesis of a particularly complex and turbulent time in U.S. history.

[Mike Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a student of Dr. Farber at Temple University, I can say that this book goes best with the lectures he meant to have accompanying it. His oratory skills are actually breathtaking and his knowledge of this period leads to me believe that he fully enjoyed the free love movements of the late 1960s.

The late 60s are a difficult period to write about because almost every book of history focuses on the strictly political events that occurred during the presidencies of Johnson and Nixon, but this book gives off an awesome vibe that would speak to surfer, hippie, rock star, flower picking and anti-The-Man societies. As left as any book I've ever read for college credit, this book is incredibly easy to ready and comprehend.

Of particular brevity are the sections on music and film.

I'll probably end up giving this book to my dad when he becomes old and senile and does nothing but complain about young kids and their flashy skateboards and boom-boxes.

[Christine Murdock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading this book. It is a fairly good American history book. The author remains unbias, just presents all the known facts and perhaps why certain choices were made. I gained a new appriecation for people who survived the 1960s. I had a lot of fun piecing events together and learning certain tid bits. Overall the 1960s was a very eventful decade... full of romance, tragedy, grand achievements, violence and non-violent protests. I enjoyed learning more about many of the well known people of the 1960s...JFK, LBJ, MLK, Malcom X, Nixon, and hippies. I also enjoyed learning more about specific events in more detail...Vietnam, Cold War, Bay of Pigs, Woodstock, Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Watergate. There were also chapters on the history of drug use in America after WWII and the 1960s counterculture that I found really interesting.

[Stephanie MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for my Social Science's class. I must say it wasn't too badly written. SImple English both informative and help my attention. It could have been much worse, but it could have also been better. Some parts where incredibly drawn out and I wish it would just get to the point faster. But other than that, overall, nicely put together.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a class I was taking. I thought the professor was brilliant for picking it out. It brings you all through the 60's and gave me a sincere appreciation and valuable insight into those times and how they truly affected the way we live now.

[Lisa Salinas · Rating 3 out of 5]

We used this as a textbook for one of my classes. It was enlightening and I really enjoyed it, but once class started, I stopped reading it straight through and focused on the homework instead. I kept meaning to finish it, but never did.

[Misty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. As a person who was born after this period, it was really amazing to read about and attempt to gain a mental picture of what life was like during the 1960's. Though this reading started out as a textbook for a class I will be back to read it again on a more personal level.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview to the sixties.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

ok, nonfiction stuff about the 60s

[James]

goes over civil rights movements for blacks (naacp, sncc...), women, students & free speech, gays and so on. also covers vietnam and the counter culture of the 60s

[Lauren Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good very basic introduction to the period. But it is very much for someone who hasn't read anything about the sixties before, and certainly for someone who didn't live through it!

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for pleasure so I skipped a lot of it but I can tell you, I would've much preferred to have read this in my history classes than the typical textbook.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Politically a bit too centrist for my taste, and often a bit repetitive, but still good.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perceptive and clear contextual history. Recommended, especially for the curious about the decade who haven't read dozens of books about it.

[Sue Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An overview of the 1960's. Not much new material for me but interesting all the same.

[Jim Swike · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read that gives us the Sixties, to those that were not there and makes it come to life.

[AskHistorians]

A short, readable, but thorough introduction to the history of the 60s.