1980: America's Pivotal Year

by Jim Cullen

1980 was a turning point in American history. When the year began, it was still very much the 1970s, with Jimmy Carter in the White House, a sluggish economy marked by high inflation, and the disco still riding the airwaves. When it ended, Ronald Reagan won the presidency in a landslide, inaugurating a rightward turn in American politics and culture. We still feel the effects of this tectonic shift today, as even subsequent Democratic administrations have offered neoliberal economic and social policies that owe more to Reagan than to FDR or LBJ. To understand what the American public was thinking during this pivotal year, we need to examine what they were reading, listening to, and watching.
 
1980: America's Pivotal Year  puts the news events of the era—everything from the Iran hostage crisis to the rise of televangelism—into conversation with the year’s popular culture. Separate chapters focus on the movies, television shows, songs, and books that Americans were talking about that year, including both the biggest hits and some notable flops that failed to capture the shifting zeitgeist. As he looks at the events that had Americans glued to their screens, from the Miracle on Ice to the mystery of Who Shot J.R., cultural historian Jim Cullen garners surprising insights about how Americans’ attitudes were changing as they entered the 1980s. Praise for Jim Cullen's previous Rutgers University Press "Informed and perceptive" —Norman Lear on  Those Were the Why All in the Family Still Matters

"Jim Cullen is one of the most acute cultural historians writing today." —Louis P. Masur, author of  The Sum of Our Dreams on  Martin Scorsese and the American Dream

"This is a terrific book, fun and learned and provocative....Cullen provides an entertaining and thoughtful account of the ways that we remember and how this is influenced and directed by what we watch." —Jerome de Groot, author of  Consuming History  on  From Memory to History

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History

230 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2022

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

"For some, a book like this serves as an exercise in nostalgia. The past can be a nice place to visit, even a refuge, and I think that for many people who were alive at the time, the moment recorded here is one that echoed into the early twenty-first century . . . " -- from the author's introduction, on page 3

I believe author Cullen is correct in his above-stated opinion about his latest work 1980: America's Pivotal Year, which briskly (in less than 200 pages) recalls a number of notable American pop cultural topics - the presidential election, movies, music, TV shows, and books - for the year that kicked off the decade. (It's sort of like the VH-1 series I Love the 80's from twenty years ago, minus the celebrity talking heads and extreme zaniness in humor.) What kept it fresh were the unexpected detours Cullen took in the chapters, such as giving attention to the box office bombs Heaven's Gate and Just Tell Me What You Want (which he sort of argues helped to torpedo Hollywood's second 'Golden Age' of the 70's and shift into the blockbuster mentality), the one-two punch of The Dukes of Hazzard and Dallas that garnered the Nielsen ratings for the CBS network on Friday evenings, the murder of John Lennon but ascension of Bruce Springsteen, and how non-fiction tomes (such as Carl Sagan's Cosmos or Milton Friedman's Free to Choose) seemed to have been more popular than fiction on the bestsellers lists and/or in the court of popular opinion. The political chapters which served as bookends, while interesting and appropriately detailed, were a little more problematic - the author's stance on certain candidates at the time and ones in decades to come is pretty obvious, and while he is certainly allowed his viewpoints I think it's one of those aspects that may divide his audience.

[Debbie "DJ" · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book starts out by saying how important a decade is, but never really makes it out of the 70's. There's so much editing that needs to be done here it was hard to read. Individual words were cut in two, and every time a picture was included the original narration was abandoned and the picture discussed. What?
The book basically delves into 80's music, TV, movies and books. Oops, I mean the late 70's which works for music (my taste). It makes the statement that politics will not be found here, then spends a lot of time discussing them. Honestly, the only section I found interesting was the music section and a little of the politics.
I thought it would be fun to try a little tip back through the 80's, but this book needs a lot of work.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, an entertaining overview of the culture of 1980, but ultimately the author didn't effectively advance his thesis: that 1980 was an especially pivotal year. Cullen reaches back and looks ahead by 5-10 years on either side of 1980 to illustrate his point while, at the same, failing to mention those significant and popular cultural items that contradict or complicate his argument.

[Lori Alden Holuta · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into the groove of this book, as I kept waiting for that light-bulb moment when I would be convinced that 1980 was a pivotal year. Sadly, it felt like the author was rummaging around for information to make his case, and that illuminating moment never arrived.

However - I found the book to be mildly and pleasantly nostalgic, since in 1980 I was nearing a turning point of my own. I would soon commit to marriage after a wild ride of hedonistic freedom that carried me through most of the 1970s. I enjoyed being reminded of various events, personalities and forms of entertainment that were a big deal at the time.

My thanks to the author, Rutgers University Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital advance review copy of this book. This review is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed some parts of this book. Because it reminded me of my times in the 1980s. However, it was an exceptionally light written book. In other words, it seems the author was not as focused on depth of research, but instead rather giving an overview.

Additionally, the author did not prove to me that the 1980s were, in fact, a determining time in our country. It was a nice walk through the past, however.

I would not recommend this book to everyone, only those who have an in-depth knowledge of the timeframe, so they can decide for themselves what parts have strength and the others that don’t.

I received an advance review copy from Net Galley for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Dr. Alan Albarran · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a lover of history and a researcher of the media industries, I looked forward to reading this book. In 1980 I was a young married man, we were expecting our first child and building our home and careers. Having lived through the decade I was interested in looking back.

Regretfully I did not like this book. It is daunting to look at an entire decade and do it justice, even if the focus is somewhat limited as this examination is with an emphasis on media and culture, broadly defined. An author can't cover everything that happens as this book shows it is extremely difficult to attempt to synthesize all of the important events and milestones.

To me the chapters started to read like lists of events--whether discussing movies, television shows, books, etc. I think the author wanted to discuss more politics, as a lot of time is spent on the election of 1980. There are numerous criticisms of Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump is even discussed in this work--why I have no idea other than to provide a platform for criticism. Trump was not a pivotal player in the media or in culture or in politics in the 1980s. The Apprentice didn't hit the air until 2004.

Ignoring the politics, the book suffers from an understanding of many factors that determined what we read, saw and experienced during the 1980s with our media habits. Media is all about storytelling and engaging audiences. And in the 1980s, as today, it is done in the USA with a profit-driven motive. Yet the economics of the media/cultural industries are never presented. Nor is the many regulatory barriers that existed across the media industries during the 1980s that prevented competition. Instead, we get a lot of "lists" (not in a numerical sense) of movies, albums, TV shows, etc the author uses for examples and illustration. Because there is no "system" shared with the reader then the content is at best, arbitrary.. A framework for analysis would have helped.

It's not a bad read, and there are parts of the book that are entertaining. There are other parts that just didn't make a lot of sense to me, with the book on publishing being the best example. The chapter opens with a rambling discourse about economics and Milton Friedman's book Free to Choose, which was actually published on January 1, 1979. I was expecting some discussion on the consolidation of the book industry and also some consideration given to newspapers and magazine publishing, but there are few mentions of the former and none of the latter. .

Still, 1980 is a nostalgic look at a transformative decade, and if you are interested in what was happening in the major media entertainment industries during the time the book may be of interest

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I reviewed an advance PDF copy that was full of numbers in the text and a distraction to read.. A better version for advance reviewers would have made the reading less distracting.

[Corey Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t fully sold that 1980 was a pivotal year after I read this eBook. We’re the 1980s a pivotal decade? Yes. I get the bounce back and forth between the lead-up to the 80s via the 70s and the cross-contamination of today really stretching for a reason why we should pay more attention to a single year.

This book is intense on politics. I enjoyed this being a student of the political sciences but it’s not for all.

I would have preferred “The 1980s: A pivotal decade” as our title.


ARC via NetGalley (Thank you!)

[Dubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happened in 1980 that set the United States on a path that has brought us to where we are today -- a post-truth world, democracy under attack by autocracy, a sharply divided populace poised to contest those divisions more sharply than ever? The short answer is stagflation, gas lines, and the hostage crisis in Iran, setting the stage for the ascent of Ronald Reagan to the White House, however unlikely that seemed at the time. Historian Jim Cullen searches for additional clues in pop culture, looking at movies, music, television, and books of the era.

Now might be the right time to disclose that Jim Cullen was my daughter's history teacher and adviser in high school. I met with him to discuss my daughter's progress on several occasions. There was also open school night, where teachers gave parents short classes -- one of my favorites was Cullen's 12 Albums That Changed the World (in tandem with another teacher).

So as a fan of Jim Cullen the teacher, and a fan of books about the pop culture of pivotal years (1970 and 971 in pop music, 2000 in TV) this book is right in my wheelhouse. But while I raced through it and certainly enjoyed it and was intrigued by its premise(s), I'm left somewhat unsettled.

One one hand, the reason 1980 was so pivotal was that it allowed the far right, crushed in 1964 when Goldwater ran against LBJ, to retake control of political discourse, leading directly to the 1994 Contract With America, the contested 2000 election that saddled us with the Bush-Cheney wars, and the abominable Trump years, the Big Lie, 1/6, and who knows what may yet come but it sure doesn't look too healthy.

There was also enduring damage caused by the pivot from Keynesian economics to the now discredited trickle down theory that only served to further enrich the already rich while creating huge debt and deficits (as mentioned by Cullen). I was a Ph.D. candidate in economics in 1980, right in the middle of that fiscal vs. monetary policy debate, with Milton Friedman the most vocal champion of the latter.

Indeed, Friedman and by extension Reagan did not believe in limited governmental intervention in the economy, they just wanted that intervention to benefit business and the wealthy rather than the social programs favored by liberals -- corporate welfare instead of social welfare. That was the original Big Lie that convinced many people to support the upward redistribution of wealth that has continued unabated since then.

With as much clarity that we now have with 20-20 hindsight, I would have liked to see a historian like Cullen look for direct clues to when facts were overtaken by opinion and propaganda -- he mentions this briefly in his conclusion referring to the Reagan-Carter debate, but it really needed to be the major mystery that had to be solved. We know Lee Atwater had a lot to do with it, but his name is never mentioned in this book.

The other thing hindsight shows us is that what started in 1980 and has been amplified in the past six or seven years is a culture war based on racism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia. The 60s and 70s was the era of civil rights, the women's movement, the sexual revolution, Stonewall, etc. Perhaps the most prescient event leading into 1980 was the Disco Demolition Night in 1979, a decidedly racist and homophobic event that is a direct antecedent to what we're experienced these days.

I'm reminded of a meme I saw on the internet: to someone with privilege, equality feels like oppression -- 1980 was the first big event in national politics where the privileged reacted against the equality that had been emerging for the non-privileged (ironically headlining their ideology with terms like "equality"). I feel it should have been one of the main trends he should have been looking for. Indeed, rather than looking for rare signs of conservatism, he should have been looking at what was so prevalent in pop culture that led to such a harsh backlash.

The other problem I had: the rightward turn in politics was years in the making, given that stagflation began in 1973, meddling in Iran and the Middle East dated back to the 1950s, liberal politics began with FDR in the 1930s, you get the idea. Meanwhile, the movies, books, music, and TV shows of 1980 all took at least a year to be conceived, executed, and released, before Reagan became a viable candidate, so they don't really reflect the mood in 1980 when Reagan kind of came out of nowhere.

Reagan aside, the signs Cullen is looking for predate 1980 -- the movie Network in 1976, Rocky taking on a black champion and a Russian, Rambo the survivalist taking on the world, Dirty Harry and Charles Bronson taking the law into their own hands to rid the nation of, you guessed it, launching the vigilante genre of the 70s and 80s.

Many of the examples Cullen cites from 1980, especially in TV and music, are more of an expression of the diversity and tolerance that was taking place up to 1980 rather than a harbinger of a retrograde turn to a more conservative past. Especially in music, the 1980s were a time when hip hop took off, gay influences skyrocketed, and world music emerged, while traditional country music took a back seat to crossover sub-genres, even neo-country disco.

There are some clues in three things Cullen examines in depth. The Heaven's Gate fiasco was in fact a conservative retaking of the movie business by studios over independent directors who were dominating cinema (though the real trend was, as Cullen points out and everyone already knows, the blockbuster model of Jaws and Star Wars). Punk was a reaction against progressive pop and rock, pulling the industry back to a simpler time when anyone could rock out and play loud -- a conservative turn even though its practitioners were by and large radical and anarchic. And the Preppy Handbook was perhaps the most striking augur of what was coming in the 1980s, though it seems like its timing was serendipitous rather than prescient.

Overall, I enjoyed reading about all the music, movies, books and TV shows of the 70s into the 80s, and the politics. But I don't feel that Cullen made a case for pop culture being any kind of canary in the coal mine. I don't believe that case is even there to be made, except maybe via some nifty metaphors. Nevertheless, there is much food for thought.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing an advance reading copy in exchange for this honest review. Sorry for the critique, Mr. Cullen. Stella says hey!

[J Earl · Rating 4 out of 5]

1980: America's Pivotal Year, by Jim Cullen, is an interesting and well-presented argument for just what the title claims. Even if you don't come away thinking it is THE pivotal year one can't argue with the fact it was A pivotal year.

The book is thematically organized, so while some discussion within each chapter may cross media lines, the chapter is about a particular medium or topic (film, music, publishing, politics primarily because it was an election year, etc). This works well for both presenting each case and for then showing the cumulative effect.

Don't let an asinine review from a "Dr" (should all of us who could use that designation do so, or just the self-righteous?) keep you from reading the book. Trump is mentioned no more than most figures that came after 1980 so it is the Dr's bias that is showing, not the writer's. This is not about the decade of the 80s, as reading the entire title would tell most people, but this guy must either have a serious reading comprehension problem or just skimmed some of the text to be able to make a very poor and slanted review. Especially since these aren't even remotely "lists," though a number of examples are mentioned to show how the work Cullen centered each chapter on is pivotal. But those examples have a discussion explaining why he believes they make good examples. Emeritus, yeah, from U of North Podunk, all while working for investment firms through an "information services" company. And his (mostly edited by rather than written by) publications and expertise is in the economics of media, not the social and cultural influences or ramifications, so he is as "expert" as whoever the next person you may see is. In other words, not one. Enough about that hideous excuse for an "educator."

If you were at least a teenager in 1980 (I was past that) you will remember a lot of what is in here but perhaps not the way Cullen contextualizes it. Additionally, if you tended toward the less popular in an area you may well not be as aware of just how popular (numbers and profit wise) some of these examples were. I personally wasn't watching much TV at the time so while I knew, for example, that Dallas was a big deal, we didn't gather 'round the reactor on the sub and discuss episodes.

Yes, there is a lot of political discussion throughout, in large part because it was an election year and in large part because the way politics pivoted from that point until now is the single strongest argument for 1980 being pivotal. From two parties that warred but understood that democracy requires compromise, to a two-party system where they are both to the right of center and the one furthest to the right has authoritarian leanings.

While my comment, and the blatantly dishonest review from numbnuts, gives the impression the book is largely a political book, it isn't. In fact, until I saw that just mentioning facts brought a "dr" to full-fledged lies, it was largely a trip down memory lane that made me think, for each area, to what degree I agreed. And the argument Cullen makes holds pretty well for the separate areas as well as for the country as a whole.

Recommended for those who might remember 1980 and want to reconsider the year as an important one as well as social historians who enjoys looking at how various threads in our society influences each other.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rutgers Universtity Press for an advanced copy of this cultural and political study of an important year in the in American experience.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Hair was starting to get higher and the idea of shoulder pads in ladies outfits were begining to form. Punk had crested, disco had left its mark in music. Movies began to look more to blockbusters, though art did try to get through. And American malaise began to spoken of with hopes that a cowboy could come from the West, well California and save and inspire a failing country to great heights. According to JIm Cullen in his book 1980: America's Pivotal Year the beginning of the decade highlighted all the oddness and meanness the decade would become.

The book begins with a look at well the before times. A strong look at the 1970's the drugs, the kids, the uprisinging, and the arts. The decade that began with an idea of change in the air had ended with an almost plop. Gas shortages, Iranian hostages, and a economy that just seemed stagnant made America look week. The music industry seemed to be coming off a binge of cocaine and exhaustion, with punk already played out, and disco facing more racism than acceptance. The book then looks at the year 1980 with each chapter telling a different story, about politics, music, art, books, television and moves, showing small changes that would have larger repercussions later.

The book is well written and even better well argued, with informaiton backed up by facts and opinions that make sense. Cullen covers quite a lot, and as one reads it is amazing to see all the event and art that occurred in just that one year. Cullen's writing is very good and one learns quite a bit, expecially when it comes to music. Cullens discussion of the changes just in country music, the pull of popular music, the rising strength of outlaw country, and how movie soundtracks were causing changes, was worthy of a book on just that subject. A fascinting read that covers a lot of subject matter.

A very interesting book that raises quite a lot of points, and I am sure one that will start many discussions, and arguements. There was a lot I had forgotten, even though I was around for it. A good book for people interested in the 1980's, for people interested in art and and politcs, and for people who just enjoy books that are both interesting and worth discussing.

[Martin Maenza · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest look at this specific year comes out on October 14, 2022. Rutgers University Press provided an early galley for review.

For me, personally, 1980 marked a transition year. I had just entered high school the Fall before. I was broadening my musical tastes from Top 40 and disco into the sounds of new-wave and alternative as played on the local college radio station. While I was not yet driving, I was finding more personal freedom in exploring the world of my hometown and the village neighboring it. I'm certainly open to Cullen's argument about 1980's importance in the greater American history.

While I was aware of the changing political structure at the time, as a teenager who couldn't yet vote I really did not focus on that aspect of current events. Having the recap here was great refresher. And the focus on bestsellers was over my radar at the time (I read mostly sci-fi and fantasy for fun then). I did appreciate the evolution and marketing techniques of the big booksellers at the time though.

Now, the other areas covered were right in my wheelhouse. 1980 indeed had a number of cinematic highpoints with films that did change the direction of movies. I saw quite a few of those mentioned in the book either in theater or on HBO. The music industry also did go through a big shift in 1980. Many of the albums noted were part of or have since been added to my growing collection of music. And the TV shows discussed were very much part of the cultural framework (thanks to the not-yet exploded cable landscape).

So, the question is this: was 1980 the pivotal year for America? I would say it was "a pivotal year" - absolutely. Whether or not it was "the (most) pivotal year" is something I'll leave to the historians or other scholars to determine. Cullen certainly makes a good case for his candidate though.

[Ethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An in-depth look at the cultural, political, and social trends of 1980, rightly seen as a time of major transition in American society.

The author explores in depth the 1980 Presidential campaign as well as the music, the books, the television shows, and the movies which defined 1980. The author goes to great lengths to show the fading of many of the cultural and social trends which had defined the 1970s and even all the way back to the end of WWII by 1980 and the points of emergence of a new, laissez-faire conservative perspective. The author concluded with an analysis of the 1980 election and how it ushered in the Eighties as we understand it, and seeing in the events of 2001, 2008, and 2020 the final end of the age inaugurated in 1980.

The work is interesting but has a "laundry list" feel to it: the author felt compelled to discuss almost everything, and in the process the analysis and the explanation of importance got lost. In many ways it is important to make it clear how things were changing around 1980 since new generations have arisen which did not live to see it; and yet plenty of eulogies have been made for the spirit of the 1980s and yet somehow many of its platitudes and ideologies persist. Only in future generations will there be sufficient distance to be able to better assess such things. But for now this is an accessible work to explain a pretty important year in American history.

**--galley received as part of early review program

[Christina Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim Cullen’s “1980: A Pivotal Year” is a great overview of the historical importance through popular culture: Film, Music, Television, and Publishing. Given the political nature of the “Pivotal Year,” I had hoped for a Kurlanskyesque deep dive à la “1968;” on that front, “1980” just didn’t do it for me. The first few chapters are almost list-like in their presentation of key films, songs and musicians, and TV shows. Only when Cullen gets to the chapter built around Television does he start to get more into the political narrative and in establishing a zeitgeist for 1980. Given the size of the book, around 180 pages of text, it seems like an enormous task to present the copious amount of information Cullen attempts, with its accompanying backdrop and beyond 1980 references - and I would have preferred a longer, meatier tome, if it had meant a deeper presentation of what it meant to be living in 1980. Cullen picks up steam in the last half of the book, presenting a more cohesive narrative of the rise of Reagan and the fall of Carter, as well as the oppressive economic backdrop of Friedman’s school of Neo-conservativism. If you want to have a good point of reference for the pop culture mood and scene of the late 70s and early 80s, this is a great book.

[Boukie's Bookshop · Rating 4 out of 5]

1980 by Jim Cullen is a fun '80s nostalgia trip that takes itself a bit too seriously for its own good.

As a nostalgic overview of 1980s pop-culture, this book is quite enjoyable retreat into the near (oh my goodness, it's really been 42 years!?) past, with chapters focusing on publishing, film, music, and underlined by the politics of the times. It's fun to see in hindsight how certain stars rise and fall, themes bubble up and boil and cool, and how that's all paved the way for our contemporary social/cultural/political situation.

My only criticism is how the author tries and fails to advance his thesis (that the 80s was a unique decade, and 1980 a uniquely pivotal year for American politics and society) at the expense of the flow of the book. It felt forced and a bit disingenuous, almost like he was doing it on a dare. It's easy to brush off, tho, and doesn't detract enormously from the enjoyment one might get in witnessing the broad strokes and main characters of the era.

For those who want a fun stroll down memory lane, or who are interested in an informative overview of 1980s (+/-) America, I'd recommend giving it a read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Rutgers University Press for the digital advanced review copy of the book.

[Brandon Westlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Cullen's work has always impressed me. His writing style is straightforward and to the point, and he always brings a new view to a topic, helping readers see things from a more sociocultural light. If you haven't read Democratic Empire, please do so.

I was really concerned with this book, because 1980- what else is there to say besides Reagan? Cullen makes it clear a lot has been left out. His chapter about the 1970s is a great overview of the historiography of the decade and shows the importance of 1979 as to why we can say it was such a book end.

The book's strongest chapter is that one on music. It truly is the highlight of the book. He really shows how popular culture changes, and how disco develops into 80s music. The writing on country music was also fascinating.

There are other chapters, on politics of course, but also on movies and TV and other cultural topics. If you're looking for some insight into how the 1980s began and what drove the decade, look towards this book

[G · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'm buying into the author's hypothesis that 1980 was a truly seminal year in all kinds of respects. I found his arguments a bit stretched, like a well-chewed piece of gum. It was a fairly entertaining read (once I made it past the very dry Dead Sea of US politics), but it also felt like someone doing their homework, and on a subject they don't have a real affinity for. The film section was okay, even if to me it seemed like the author veered all over the place with his choice of movies, but the chapter dealing with 1980's music felt like a flashback to "American Psycho", with Patrick Bateman going on at length about the cultural cachet of Huey Lewis & the News. Also, some of the information was a bit, um, basic; if you're fresh vom Venus and you need to brush up on who this "David Bowie" person was everyone seems to know about, this book might prove helpful.
I don't know, I'm not quite sure what the target audience is here, but I'm afraid it wasn't me.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[AnnieM · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author and I are about the same age - and what I enjoyed about this book is it felt like a walk down memory lane to a pivotal year - 1980. 1980 started with Jimmy Carter losing and Reagan winning in a landslide with the backdrop of behind the scenes negotiations and game playing with the Iran Hostage Crisis. I really enjoyed the layout of the chapters because it grounded the year in what was happening politically and culturally in the country and what it foreshadowed for the rest of the 1980's. There are separate chapters on music, television, songs and books and not only was it nostalgic for me, it also helped me look again at the foundation that was built from that pivotal year. I really enjoyed revisiting the past and reflecting on what has evolved since then. I recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rutgers University Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kindlelover 1220 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical look back at the 1980s. The decade that included, the last of the feral children, who were also lackeyed kids, hair sprayed hair, and some pretty great concerts. The rise of the Republican Party and the end of creditable new shows. Remember Trickle Down Economics? That never happened. The decade, in my honest opinion had the best music and some very entertaining movies and TV shows. The rise of MTV and music videos. A nostalgic look at a decade that was I think was amazing. Maybe I am little bias because I grew up in the decade and I am Gen X. The author did a wonderful job telling the history and events of the 1980s. This is an awesome reference book.

Declaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Rutgers University Press for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jim Cullen's look back at the year 1980 in his book "1980" is a recap of a pivotal year in our history. It's a pleasant blend of pop culture and politics that makes you consider the impact that year had on our culture and where we are today as a result. It's not written academically, nor like a slick magazine article. Rather it's a timeline format that allows you to recall where you were at that time and what the things he calls out meant to you. A good read for anyone who grew up in the 80s. Thanks to Rutgers University Press and NetGalley for the preview read. #1980 #rutgersuniversitypress #netgalley

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

1980 by Jim Cullen is a highlight reel of that year. From movies, books, politics and popular culture and it’s all in this book with the section for each. I enjoyed reading about what led up to 1980 and all that happened in it it was like a walk down memory lane from the little yuppie handbook to the Iran hostage negotiations Jim: covered at all. I highly recommend this book to anything of the past. I received this book from net galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review but all opinions are definitely my own.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seems to take in inordinate amount of space, chapters, discussing the seventies and setting up the eighties. So much time is spent on seventies filmography that I began to wonder if he was ever going to address the actual main premise of the book, the eighties, and its pivotal importance. The eighties did get addressed and as a young adult during this time, I thought I would find it interesting. However, in my opinion, the author failed to make me understand how this was a pivotal, or significant year. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy of this book.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is covers many of the events including political and cultural that made 1980 a pivotal year in American history. Each chapter is devoted to specific topics: politics, books, movies, etc. The authors lays the groundwork by covering events that occurred in the 1970’s that culminated in 1980. This is a quick and interesting read.

I received a free ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about a very pivotal year in American history. 1980: America's Pivotal Year puts the news events of the era—everything from the Iran hostage crisis to the rise of televangelism—into conversation with the year’s popular culture. This is a different look at that year and I had a great time learning new things about this year. If you are a history buff, or just want to take a deeper look at this time.

[Dan Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading and remembering some of the things the author brought up in this book. While the author chose selective parts of the 80’s it was well written and insightful. The biggest challenge I had reading this book was all of the random numbers that were in the sentences. I have read my share of ARC’s and the layout of this book make it difficult to get thru.

[Zine Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Variety of Topics Covered
I wouldn't consider all of the topics covered to be important to the contrary, Cullen gave detail to the topics covered. The coverage of popular art including movies, TV, music, and literature was very detailed. The amount of coverage and detail given to the topics political environment was lacking to me.

[LaShanda Chamberlain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book quite fascinating!! I was born in ‘75 , I remember many of the things discussed in this book. It was interesting to read more about these events & learn more about them in a. historical aspect.