Stayin’ Alive : The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class

A wide-ranging cultural and political history that will forever redefine a misunderstood decade, Stayin' Alive is prize-winning historian Jefferson Cowie's remarkable account of how working-class America hit the rocks in the political and economic upheavals of the 1970s. In this edgy and incisive book―part political intrigue, part labor history, with large doses of American music, film and television lore―Cowie, with “an ear for the power and poetry of vernacular speech” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), reveals America's fascinating path from rising incomes and optimism of the New Deal to the widening economic inequalities and dampened expectations of the present.Winner of the 2011 Francis Parkman Prize from the Society of American Historians for the Best Book on American HistoryWinner of the 2011 Merle Curti Prize from the Organization of American Historians for the Best Book in American Social HistoryWinner of the 2011 Labor History Best Book PrizeWinner of the 2011 Best Book Award from the United Association for Labor Education An Epic Account Of How Working Class America Hit The Rocks In The Political And Economic Upheavals Of The 1970s, This Work Is A Wide Ranging Cultural And Political History That Presents The Decade In A Whole New Light. The Author's Work, Part Political Intrigue, Part Labor History, With Large Doses Of American Music, Film, And Tv Lore, Makes New Sense Of The 1970s As A Crucial And Poorly Understood Transition From The Optimism Of New Deal America To The Widening Economic Inequalities And Dampened Expectations Of The Present. It Takes Us From The Factory Floors Of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, And Detroit To The Washington Of Nixon, Ford, And Carter. The Author Connects Politics To Culture, Showing How The Big Screen And The Jukebox Can Help Us Understand How America Turned Away From The Radicalism Of The 1960s And Toward The Patriotic Promise Of Ronald Reagan. He Makes Unexpected Connections Between The Secrets Of The Nixon White House And The Failings Of The George Mcgovern Campaign, Between Radicalism And The Blue Collar Backlash, And Between The Earthy Twang Of Merle Haggard's Country Music And The Falsetto Highs Of Saturday Night Fever. He Also Captures Nothing Less Than The Defining Characteristics Of A New Era, And Asserts That The 1970s Were The Last Stand Of The American Working Class, A Time When The Goals Of The New Deal Finally Faded Away To Make Room For Reaganomics And A Widening Of The Gap Between Classes. This Is A Book That Attempts To Define A Misunderstood Decade. Old Fashioned Heroes Of The New Working Class -- What Kind Of Delegation Is This? -- Nixon's Class Struggle -- I'm Dyin' Here -- A Collective Sadness -- The New Deal That Never Happened -- The Important Sound Of Things Falling Apart -- Dead Man's Town. Jefferson Cowie. Originally Published: 2010. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. An epic account of how working class America hit the rocks in the political and economic upheavals of the 1970s, this work is a wide ranging cultural and political history that presents the decade in a whole new light. The author's work, part political intrigue, part labor history, with large doses of American music, film, and TV lore, makes new sense of the 1970s as a crucial and poorly understood transition from the optimism of New Deal America to the widening economic inequalities and dampened expectations of the present. It takes us from the factory floors of Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Detroit to the Washington of Nixon, Ford, and Carter. The author connects politics to culture, showing how the big screen and the jukebox can help us understand how America turned away from the radicalism of the 1960s and toward the patriotic promise of Ronald Reagan. He makes unexpected connections between the secrets of the Nixon White House and the failings of the George McGovern campaign, between radicalism and the blue collar backlash, and between the earthy twang of Merle Haggard's country music and the falsetto highs of Saturday Night Fever. He also captures nothing less than the defining characteristics of a new era, and asserts that the 1970s were the last stand of the American working class, a time when the goals of the New Deal finally faded away to make room for Reaganomics and a widening of the gap between classes. This is a book that attempts to define a misunderstood decade.--Résumé de l'éditeur Winner of the 2011 Merle Curti award, an epic account that recasts the 1970s as the key turning point in modern U.S. history, from the renowned historian A wide-ranging cultural and political history that will forever redefine a misunderstood decade, Stayin'Alive is prizewinning historian Jefferson Cowie's remarkable account of how working-class America hit the rocks in the political and economic upheavals of the 1970s. In this edgy and incisive book—part political intrigue, part labor history, with large doses of American music, film and television lore—Cowie, with “an ear for the power and poetry of vernacular speech” (Cleveland Plain Dealer), reveals America's fascinating path from rising incomes and optimism of the New Deal to the widening economic inequalities and dampened expectations of the present. Winner of the 2011 Merle Curti award, an epic account that recasts the 1970s as the key turning point in modern U.S. history, from the renowned historian A wide-ranging cultural and political history that will forever redefine a misunderstood decade, Stayin Alive is prizewinning historian Jefferson Cowies remarkable account of how working-class America hit the rocks in the political and economic upheavals of the 1970s. In this edgy and incisive bookpart political intrigue, part labor history, with large doses of American music, film and television loreCowie, with an ear for the power and poetry of vernacular speech ( Cleveland Plain Dealer ), reveals Americas fascinating path from rising incomes and optimism of the New Deal to the widening economic inequalities and dampened expectations of the present. Asserts That The 1970s Were The Last Stand Of The American Working Class, A Time When The Goals Of The New Deal Finally Faded Away To Make Room For Reaganomics And A Widening Of The Gap Between Classes. Old Fashioned Heroes Of The New Working Class -- What Kind Of Delegation Is This? -- Nixon's Class Struggle -- I'm Dying Here -- A Collective Sadness -- The New Deal That Never Happened -- The Important Sound Of Things Falling Apart -- Dead Man's Town. Jefferson Cowie. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 377-445) And Index.