People of Plenty: Economic Abundance and the American Character

by David Morris Potter

America has long been famous as a land of plenty, but we seldom realize how much the American people are a "people of plenty"--a people whose distinctive character has been shaped by economic abundance. In this important book, David M. Potter breaks new ground both in the study of this phenomenon and in his approach to the question of national character. He brings a fresh historical perspective to bear on the vital work done in this field by anthropologists, social psychologists, and psychoanalysts.
The rejection of hindsight, with the insistence on trying to see events from the point of view of the participants, was a governing theme with Potter. . . . This sounds like a truism. Watching him apply it however, is a revelation. --Walter Clemons, "Newsweek "
The best short book on national character I have seen . . . broadly based, closely reasoned, and lucidly written. --Karl W. Deutsch, " Yale Review
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Genres: History, Economics, Nonfiction, American History

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1958

About the author

David Morris Potter was an American historian of the South.

Potter posthumously won the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for History

His most famous work was published posthumously.

*Do not rely on publication date vs. date of death for correct attribution.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fantastic dive into the American character. While the book jumps around within the idea of plenty, it's central theme is useful today. It also offers several specific descriptions of American character.

Potter contends America's wealth in resources shapes the character of Americans and the West in general. He goes further and assumes that democracy is only really possible in a supply-rich environment. That sets a character of innovation because there is no set size of the economic pie. You innovate a bigger pie. Governments can open opportunity to citizens - a liberal government instead of a more dictatorial one.

This made me question the exportability of democracy. Without plenty, scarcity forces a character of selfishness. The pie is fixed in this situation and only so much is available to spread around.

While an old book from the 50's, it certainly has value in modern international relations.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Methodologically problematic, but nonetheless a classic.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely engaging and thought provoking analysis of how our culture of consumerism evolved through the manufacture of demand by-way of manipulation.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book years ago in college in a pile free books. I'm not a history major or even a history buff, and I wasn't around for the context this was written in (1950's), so this was a weird read for me. The premise intrigued me then and it still does, and after finishing I still find the idea more interesting than the bulk of what's in these pages. I don't fault the book for that. It makes sense that a history book would be bogged down in history. But for me, the first entire half lagged due to its denseness, and even as it increasingly got more interesting, it still didn't spend enough time on that premise - how did abundance affect the American character? What is the American character? The last chapter delves into a hypothetical that gives a really good glimpse of this, and I wish there was more. It definitely would have kept my interest better, too.

I'm still at 3 stars, because my problems are more about myself not being the intended audience rather than anything about the way the book was written.

[L L · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning half of this book addresses the difficulties in assessing and describing “national character”. The second half explores how the specific characteristic of economic abundance has affected some aspects of American character. Potter indicates that his analysis is only a sampling and by no means comprehensive. He explores how the nation’s economic abundance affected democratic ideals, social mobility and consumption practices. The book’s ideas are well-thought out and fairly interesting, but there were several sections that were a bit tedious to read.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting inquiry into the theme of abundance and its various manifestations in the American character. What prompted my interest in David Potter was a recommendation from Professor David M. Kennedy who had studied under Potter at Yale. Potter's book is not so much a historical work as psychological probe. It extends the Frederick Jackson Turner thesis about the American frontier and prosperity. A book that is well ahead of its time.

[Robert Ripson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had read this book 30 years ago. Although it carries a tone of scientific theory, the principles outlined from a sociology-psychological and historical perspective, the book does reveal the nature of modern America; its legacy, pitfalls, and possible outline for the future of America.

[Jake Maguire · Rating 1 out of 5]

Barf.