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Prohibition: America Makes Alcohol Illegal
Traces the factors behind and the impact of the 1920 Prohibition that made it illegal to buy, sell, manufacture, or transport an alcoholic beverage within the United States.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
64 pages, Library Binding
First published October 1, 1995
66 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Cohen
204 books58 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Daniel Edward Cohen was born on March 12, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was very young and his mother, Sue Greenberg, married Milton Cohen, a veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Daniel Cohen attended Chicago public schools and was a "hanger-on" in the bohemian community around the University of Chicago while in high school in the early 1950s. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he abandoned an interest in biology for journalism. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism in 1958. Cohen married Susan Handler, a writer, on February 2, 1958. He briefly worked as a proofreader for Time, Inc. in Chicago; but, demoralized by the paternalistic organizational culture, he took a job as assistant editor of Science Digest magazine in 1959. He was transferred to New York City shortly after being hired.
In addition to his editorial work, Cohen wrote articles for Science Digest and for other publications. Encouraged by praise of his articles on paranormal subjects, Cohen published his first book, Myths of the Space Age, a collection of skeptical essays on paranormal creatures and phenomena, in 1967. The Cohens moved to a farmhouse in Forestburgh, New York, in 1969 so Daniel could write full time. He originally planned to write popular science books, but the demands of the market led him to concentrate on books about ghosts, monsters, UFOs, and psychic phenomena. Since then, Daniel Cohen has written on an astonishing variety of subjects beyond just the paranormal: historical and current biographies; advice for teenagers; world history; science and technology; animals and nature; urban legends; and popular television, music, film, and sports personalities. He has noted that he writes mass-market paperbacks for children who are reluctant to read and not especially gifted. Thus, he chooses subjects of interest to such readers.
Susan Cohen was born on March 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Martin and Ida (Goldman) Handler. She earned a B.A. degree from the New School for Social Research in 1960 and an M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, in 1962. She worked as a social worker in the mid-1960s before writing The Liberated Couple, a feminist tract, in 1971. She wrote eleven gothic romances and mysteries under the penname Elizabeth St. Clair between 1974 and 1981. Susan and Daniel Cohen began collaborating on books in 1982 to help alleviate Daniel's workload. They have written books primarily on popular entertainment, advice for teenagers, and animals. The Cohens currently live in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.
Daniel Edward Cohen was born on March 12, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents divorced when he was very young and his mother, Sue Greenberg, married Milton Cohen, a veteran of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Daniel Cohen attended Chicago public schools and was a "hanger-on" in the bohemian community around the University of Chicago while in high school in the early 1950s. He attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he abandoned an interest in biology for journalism. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in journalism in 1958. Cohen married Susan Handler, a writer, on February 2, 1958. He briefly worked as a proofreader for Time, Inc. in Chicago; but, demoralized by the paternalistic organizational culture, he took a job as assistant editor of Science Digest magazine in 1959. He was transferred to New York City shortly after being hired.
In addition to his editorial work, Cohen wrote articles for Science Digest and for other publications. Encouraged by praise of his articles on paranormal subjects, Cohen published his first book, Myths of the Space Age, a collection of skeptical essays on paranormal creatures and phenomena, in 1967. The Cohens moved to a farmhouse in Forestburgh, New York, in 1969 so Daniel could write full time. He originally planned to write popular science books, but the demands of the market led him to concentrate on books about ghosts, monsters, UFOs, and psychic phenomena. Since then, Daniel Cohen has written on an astonishing variety of subjects beyond just the paranormal: historical and current biographies; advice for teenagers; world history; science and technology; animals and nature; urban legends; and popular television, music, film, and sports personalities. He has noted that he writes mass-market paperbacks for children who are reluctant to read and not especially gifted. Thus, he chooses subjects of interest to such readers.
Susan Cohen was born on March 27, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, to Martin and Ida (Goldman) Handler. She earned a B.A. degree from the New School for Social Research in 1960 and an M.S.W. degree from Adelphi University in Garden City, New York, in 1962. She worked as a social worker in the mid-1960s before writing The Liberated Couple, a feminist tract, in 1971. She wrote eleven gothic romances and mysteries under the penname Elizabeth St. Clair between 1974 and 1981. Susan and Daniel Cohen began collaborating on books in 1982 to help alleviate Daniel's workload. They have written books primarily on popular entertainment, advice for teenagers, and animals. The Cohens currently live in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 18, 2016
Genre: Non-fiction, prohibition, gangsters, government, alcohol
Summary: In the latter part of the 19th century, temperance movements around the country succeeded in passing the 18th amendment which outlawed the consumption of alcohol. The book details the roots of the movement, from the foundation of the American colonies all the way through the 1930's when the 18th amendment was repealed by the 21st amendment. The book also details how Prohibition affected American society through the rise of women's rights, to organized crime, corruption in government and the Great Depression. It is an interesting insight into the history of the time period, with interesting excerpts focusing on unique people and their contributions of the time period.
Response: This book is very similar to the other non-fiction text I read, Farewell, John Barleycorn because they address the same time period, people and circumstances. I felt that this book however, was geared toward a younger audience than Barleycorn just because of the writing. The author, Daniel Cohen, made sure to define and describe what may be considered unfamiliar terms like "Prussianism" and "bolshevistic". Although not everyone might know these terms, those who are somewhat familiar with history could make an educated guess. Cohen, by defining these, plus many other terms, is assuming that his audience can't make that educated guess. So while this book addresses many of the same issues as Barleycorn I would use it with a much younger crowd.
Summary: In the latter part of the 19th century, temperance movements around the country succeeded in passing the 18th amendment which outlawed the consumption of alcohol. The book details the roots of the movement, from the foundation of the American colonies all the way through the 1930's when the 18th amendment was repealed by the 21st amendment. The book also details how Prohibition affected American society through the rise of women's rights, to organized crime, corruption in government and the Great Depression. It is an interesting insight into the history of the time period, with interesting excerpts focusing on unique people and their contributions of the time period.
Response: This book is very similar to the other non-fiction text I read, Farewell, John Barleycorn because they address the same time period, people and circumstances. I felt that this book however, was geared toward a younger audience than Barleycorn just because of the writing. The author, Daniel Cohen, made sure to define and describe what may be considered unfamiliar terms like "Prussianism" and "bolshevistic". Although not everyone might know these terms, those who are somewhat familiar with history could make an educated guess. Cohen, by defining these, plus many other terms, is assuming that his audience can't make that educated guess. So while this book addresses many of the same issues as Barleycorn I would use it with a much younger crowd.
Displaying 1 of 1 review