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America as a Civilization
Foreword
Heritage
The idea of American civilization
People & place
The culture of science & the machine
Capitalist economy & business civilization
The political system
Class & status in America
Life cycle of the American
Character & society
Belief & opinion
The arts & popular culture
America as a world power
Acknowledgments
Notes for Further Reading
Index
Heritage
The idea of American civilization
People & place
The culture of science & the machine
Capitalist economy & business civilization
The political system
Class & status in America
Life cycle of the American
Character & society
Belief & opinion
The arts & popular culture
America as a world power
Acknowledgments
Notes for Further Reading
Index
1036 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1957
4 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Max Lerner
95 books10 followersMaxwell "Max" Alan Lerner was an American journalist and educator known for his controversial syndicated column. Lerner earned a B.A. from Yale University in 1923. He studied law there, but transferred to Washington University in St. Louis for an M.A. in 1925. He earned a doctorate from the Brookings Institution in 1927.
After completing his education Lerner found employment as both an educator and as a journalist. He began work as an editor, first for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences from 1927 until 1932, then The Nation from 1936 until 1938 and PM from 1943 until 1948. During these years Lerner taught at Sarah Lawrence College, the Wellesley Summer Institute, Harvard University, and Williams College. In 1949 Lerner started writing a column for the New York Post, which he wrote until just before his death in 1992.
After completing his education Lerner found employment as both an educator and as a journalist. He began work as an editor, first for the Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences from 1927 until 1932, then The Nation from 1936 until 1938 and PM from 1943 until 1948. During these years Lerner taught at Sarah Lawrence College, the Wellesley Summer Institute, Harvard University, and Williams College. In 1949 Lerner started writing a column for the New York Post, which he wrote until just before his death in 1992.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 13, 2011
I approached this mighty tome--1,036 pages--with some trepidation, let me tell you; and not only because of its size, but its age as well: it was published in 1957, so I figured it's gotta be way outa date, huh? But I took a deep breath, braced myself, and plunged in brain first.
Whoa! What a rush!
The book may be lengthy, but it is written in the style of an op-ed piece, without jargon, arcane allusions and pompous blahblah. Important points are divided into sections and subsections that can be easily digested on their own, often at the paragraph level.
And Lerner has lots of interesting things to say.
Such as?
Hmm... Well, stuff like this:
"America has its own civilization pattern which does not follow the pattern of others. Americans have made their tradition as well as their culture in the same act."
"America is one of the oldest and most continuous social systems in the world Three and a half [now four] centuries is a short time as the span of civilizations goes, but it is a very long time as the span of uninterrupted social power goes."
Do you ever wonder why America has no Labor Party? Max explains it.
Do you ever wonder about our patterns of isolationism and interventionism? Max explains it.
Do you ever wonder if sex, love and marriage are different in America from even close relatives like Britain? Max says yes and explains how and why.
Race relations, literature, music, immigration, class and status, religion...you name it, Max has something interesting and informative to say about it.
Do yourself a favor. Read this book.
Whoa! What a rush!
The book may be lengthy, but it is written in the style of an op-ed piece, without jargon, arcane allusions and pompous blahblah. Important points are divided into sections and subsections that can be easily digested on their own, often at the paragraph level.
And Lerner has lots of interesting things to say.
Such as?
Hmm... Well, stuff like this:
"America has its own civilization pattern which does not follow the pattern of others. Americans have made their tradition as well as their culture in the same act."
"America is one of the oldest and most continuous social systems in the world Three and a half [now four] centuries is a short time as the span of civilizations goes, but it is a very long time as the span of uninterrupted social power goes."
Do you ever wonder why America has no Labor Party? Max explains it.
Do you ever wonder about our patterns of isolationism and interventionism? Max explains it.
Do you ever wonder if sex, love and marriage are different in America from even close relatives like Britain? Max says yes and explains how and why.
Race relations, literature, music, immigration, class and status, religion...you name it, Max has something interesting and informative to say about it.
Do yourself a favor. Read this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review