The Home Front: U.S.A.

World War II #8

by Ronald H. Bailey, Time-Life Books

Book 8 of the Time-Life World War II series.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, War, Military History, Military Fiction, Reference

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read several of these World War II Time-Life books during our WWII school year. These were some of the best and most interesting books. We found a few being sold at our library, and later paid more to buy others in topics the girls were studying. These are excellent!

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most books on World War II focus on the fighting. This book takes a different approach and focuses on what was happening in the United States from the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the death of President Roosevelt. I found it interesting to compare certain aspects of how people reacted during this time to the 2020 pandemic. This book brought up important historical events such as how women got involved in the war, how people learned to be resourceful with rubber in short supply and scrap metal being collected for war materials. Innocent Japanese Americans were sent to camps, and food rationing with stamp booklets were the norm in grocery stores. Many people planted Victory gardens with any available space.
A family in the book from Long Island had five sons that went to war. All returned. Other families were not as lucky.
New York City was alive and welcoming with broadway shows.
Science discoveries such as air conditioning, computers, radar, and medical research happened during this time.
It’s not surprising that we tend to forget times past, but it was a part of our past, just like how one day the 2020 pandemic will be part of history and will be another time we persevered and made it through.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought a used set of Time-Life's WWII series several years ago and am just now getting around to reading it. Some of the volumes--though all are very well written--have been a little difficult for me to slog through, as I try to keep all the personalities and locations straight in my mind (more maps would have been helpful). This volume, providing a look at the war on the American home front, was a welcome change. The book provides a great overview of all that was happening in the country during the war, especially in regards to rationing. I especially like that the book included passages and sections about the twin shames of the country's war-time experience: the incarceration of Japanese Americans and the continued segregation and subjugation of African Americans. There were also sections on women in the military and the workforce. I didn't expect all of that in a book published in the early 80s. This would be a great introduction to anybody interested in the American WWII experience at home.

[spike marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all of the Time-Life series of books on World War II, the one on Home: Front USA if full of great photographs, information, and anecdotes of the life of American citizens during the war years. It explains the US government’s intervention in the economy, the roll of industry, and the mobilization of the US population both for war service and for war production. Stories of individuals and family add to the depth and personalization of the war. The US economy in all its facets increased considerably during the war, and it became the « arsenal of democracy «. It is likely that without US war production the allies could not have won the war, as not only did the US produce arms and military equipment for there own armed forces, but also for England, France, Russia, and Canada. This book is well worth reading to understand the nature of US industrial power and the citizens who contributed to this immense undertaking.

[Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5, but will round to 5. Only complaint is it could have touched more on the Japanese internment camps and the Manhattan Project.
I still learned a lot about the sacrifices everyday Americans had to make during the war. Many Americans today are clearly not as resilient as demonstrated during the pandemic. They freakout over being required to wear a simple mask, while Americans in the war years had to ration coffee, chocolate, cigarettes, and gas (forced to carpool). New cars and home appliances ceased production so that all efforts could go towards winning the war. I'm starting to understand why they're called "The Greatest Generation", while we argue about some of the dumbest issues today.

[Captain Pixel · Rating 4 out of 5]

(c)1977 First printing: If only the authors would have added some detail to few of their statements this book would have been absolutely amazing. Fear not, though, it is really well put together and there are many large and detailed photographs for you to study.

[Tyson Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book was excellent since it was very thick so it covered a large variety of perspectives of the war from the USA such as the war bonds andthe production of war machinery

[Effe]

What does the cover image represent?

[Robert Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought this Life Time series in the early 1980's on WWII, a volume came to the house every 2 or 3 months so I could take my reading. It was very informative and enjoyable read, I still use it for reference.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent account of the Home Front in America during World War Two.

[J. Dallas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Full of information that doesn't sugarcoat the real home front life. Recommended to anyone interested in this aspect of the war.

[Valerie Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting to relearn how WWII transformed the US into what it is today; kind of made me want to plant a Victory Garden. Or do Victory Knitting. Go pet my Victory Bunny.