The First Measured Century: An Illustrated Guide to Trends in America, 1900-2000

by Theodore Caplow, Ben J. Wattenberg, Louis Hicks

Book Overview

Most history tells the story of the past through anecdotes, but anecdotes do not always present an accurate or complete picture. There is another way to look at history. The rise of widespread, systematic data collection in the twentieth century-the first measured century-allows us to examine the past 100 years with unprecedented clarity. Now, The First Measured Century uses social data to tell us what happened to everyday Americans in the twentieth...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0844741388
• ISBN13: 9780844741383
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: AEI Press
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The Greatest Book of Social Trends

This book is full of valuable information on the social trends of the US. It provides information on all aspects of our social world. These trends are professionally written and beautifully displayed. This book is one of our nations prized accounts of American life. I recommend this book for any person who wishes to learn more about the intimate lives of those in 20th Century America. It is also a wonderful gift that will be treasured by your loved ones and passed down through the generations.

Fantastic Book!

The text is concise, informative and entertaining, the charts easy to follow without being watered down. The collective experience and expertise of the authors and their sound data collection and presentation make the First Measured Century an excellent resource for students in search of data and teachers looking for reliable texts. Beyond that, the book is an excellent means for making social science - past and current - accessible to the greater public while still interesting to those in the field. The references cited provide ample direction for further research. Highly recommended!

Makes statistics interesting

This book, which has charts of nearly every measurable statistical trend in America from 1900-2000, is an excellent read. Far from being a dry cluster of survey data, it includes with each group of charts a corresponding page explaining the sociological reasons behind the data. I assure anyone who hasn't read this book that they are in for a number of suprises, as many of the trends illustrated in fact run contrary to popular 'taken for granted' misconceptions. The First Measured Century is concise but thorough, well-written but easy to follow. You definitely won't be able to put it down.And there is definitely a FULL LIST of sources at the end of the book, just as you would expect. So it's perfect for continuing study.

Intriguing

This is the kind of book that you can open to any page, and you will find something that intrigues you. A half-hour will pass, and you'll still be reading and thinking about the the trends and the meanings of the trends illustrated in the graphs. First Measured Century is a great conversation piece and a wonderful resource for writers, teachers, historians -- anyone with an interest in our country. This book is worth the investment.

The First Measured Century--an Antidote to Ignorance

The First Measured Century is a masterful compendium of facts and commentary on the 20th century seen through a vast array of statistics. The effect of the book is to smash many stereotypes about our nation and the 20th century, and to raise numerous, thoughtful questions regarding where we've been and where we're going. I enthusiastically recommend this book for anyone who really wants to know what went on in the last century. It will also make a terrific textbook for high school or college courses dealing with history, social change, social issues, and so on. You've got to get this book, and keep it close at hand for years to come if you want to be well-informed.