Synopses & Reviews
America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s is the definitive interpretive survey of the political, social, and cultural history of 1960s America. Written by two top experts on the eraMaurice Isserman, a scholar of the Left, and Michael Kazin, a specialist in Right-wing politics and culturethis book provides a compelling tale of this tumultuous era filled with fresh and persuasive insights. Arguing that the period marked the end of the country's two-century-long ascent toward widespread affluence, domestic consensus, and international hegemony, the authors take students on a tour of the turbulent decade, exploring what did and did not change in the 1960s and why American culture and politics have never been the same since. America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s explains what made the 1960s a decade in which people felt they could make history and why, in the following decades, the history felt so troubling to Americans. They cover such events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and Operation Rolling Thunder, the rise of Motown, Bob Dylan and the Beatles, and the important role played by organizations ranging from the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to the Campus Crusade for Christ. They also shed some much-needed light on the eras often overlooked rise of the New Right and its far reaching implications which not only offer a critical dimension to the understanding of this period but to the future of America as well. Isserman and Kazin offer the most sophisticated understanding of the key developments of the decade and break new ground with their careful attention to every aspect of the political and cultural spectrum making America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s an exciting and essential narrative for both students and general readers alike.
Review
"A knowing and highly readable narrative."--Evan Thomas in The Washington Post
"Isserman and Kazin write with a marvelous mix of poignancy and wit. They take seriously the grand dreams of the era and they feel the loss of shattered hopes. They are also willing to poke fun at the decade's excesses."-- Reviews in American History
"An engaging account of a decade whose divisions characterize us to this day and whose triumphs continue to inspire us. An excellent introduction to the period."--The Boston Book Review
"Good historical writing consists not least in the capacity to convey the spirit of a time, the thoughts and feelings of its actors, and the passions hidden behind the silence of the majority. The historians Maurice Isserman and Michael Kazin are masters of this métier."--Die Zeit
"Students, and surely the general reader, will profit greatly from this concise text, with no revisionist ax to grind and with a truly national perspective."--The San Francisco Chronicle
"The level of detail in the book is just right, not getting in the way of narrative momentum, yet providing plenty for students to chew on.Overall, in terms of coverage and analytic bite, the book is the best--I'm tempted to say the only--choice for teachers seeking a work on the sixties."--David Hunt, University of Massachusetts, Boston
Review
"An impressive achievement. The most comprehensive, comprehensible history of the American 1960s that I know."--Todd Gitlin,
New York University"When two accomplished historians of the caliber of Isserman and Kazin turn their talents to a survey of the Sixties, the result is an engrossing narrative and a highly intelligent analysis of the era's cultural, political, and social events. I found myself eagerly turning pages to see how they would handle the decade's key actors, moments, and trends, and was always rewarded with judicious and insightful treatments."--Lizabeth Cohen, Harvard University
"America Divided is an indispensable history of the 1960s. Isserman and Kazin grapple with the abundant paradoxes of an era of youthful activism and resurgent conservatism, of sexual revolution and religious revival, of naive political optimism and growing distrust in government. Their compelling narrative helps make sense of the most contentious political and cultural debates of our time."-- Thomas J. Sugrue, University of Pennsylvania
"America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s is a riveting read, brimming with lively anecdotes, original insights, sharp analysis, and scrupulous scholarship. It is, far and away, the most compelling single volume history of the 1960s currently available. A superb book."--Douglas Brinkley, University of New Orleans
"This is the finest and most comprehensive history of The Sixties ever written. Professors Isserman and Kazin skillfully combine insightful analysis and captivating narrative to demonstrate how and why that political and cultural civil war haunts us yet. Their book is therefore more than another history: it is an act of engaged citizenship."--Nelson Lichtenstein, University of Virginia
Synopsis
America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s, 2/e, is the definitive interpretive survey of the political, social, and cultural history of 1960s America. Written by two top experts on the era--Maurice Isserman, a scholar of the Left, and Michael Kazin, a specialist in Right-wing politics and culture--this book provides a compelling tale of this tumultuous era filled with fresh and persuasive insights.
In this revised edition, Isserman and Kazin draw upon the latest scholarship to offer new insights into the Vietnam War, youth culture, and the lasting impact of the 1960s on American politics, culture, and society. They cover such important events as the Cuban Missile Crisis and Operation Rolling Thunder; the rise of Motown, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles; and the role played by organizations ranging from the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to the Campus Crusade for Christ. Isserman and Kazin also shed some much-needed light on the era's often overlooked rise of the New Right and its far-reaching implications, which not only offer a critical dimension to the understanding of this period, but to the future of America as well. America Divided, 2/e, defines, discusses, and analyzes all sides of the political, social, and cultural conflicts of the 1960s in a swiftly moving narrative. It is ideal for courses in 1960s America and America since 1945.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 319-323) and index.
Synopsis
In this revised edition of America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s, historians Maurice Isserman and Michael Kazin update their critically-acclaimed and popular account of on eo f the most tumultuous decades in American history. Drawing upon the latest scholarship, they include new insights into the Vietnam War, youth culture, and the lasting impact of the 1960s on American politics, culture, and society.
Synopsis
In this revised edition of America Divided: The Civil War of the 1960s, historians Maurice Isserman and Michael Kazin update their critically-acclaimed and popular account of on eo f the most tumultuous decades in American history. Drawing upon the latest scholarship, they include new insights
into the Vietnam War, youth culture, and the lasting impact of the 1960s on American politics, culture, and society.
About the Author
Kerry A. Emanuel, Ph. D., is Professor, and Director of the Center for Meteorology and Physical Oceanography at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Table of Contents