The Age of Abundance : How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture

Until the 1950s, the struggle to feed, clothe, and employ the nation drove most of American political life. From slavery to the New Deal, political parties organized around economic interests and engaged in fervent debate over the best allocation of agonizingly scarce resources. But with the explosion of the nation's economy in the years after World War II, a new set of needs began to emerge—a search for meaning and self-expression on one side, and a quest for stability and a return to traditional values on the other. In The Age of Abundance , Brink Lindsey offers a bold reinterpretation of the latter half of the twentieth century. In this sweeping history of postwar America, the tumult of racial and gender politics, the rise of the counterculture, and the conservative revolution of the 1980s and 1990s are portrayed in an entirely new light. Readers will learn how and why the contemporary ideologies of left and right emerged in response to the novel challenges of mass prosperity. The political ideas that created the culture wars, however, have now grown obsolete. As the Washington Post aptly summarized Lindsey's take on the contradictions of American politics, ''Republicans want to go home to the United States of the 1950s while Democrats want to work there.'' Struggling to replace today's stale conflicts is a new consensus that mixes the social freedom of the left with the economic freedom of the right into a potentially powerful ethos of libertarianism. The Age of Abundance reveals the secret formula of this remarkable alchemy. The book is a breathtaking reevaluation of our recent past—and will change the way we think about the future.

Until the 1950s, the struggle to feed, clothe, and employ the nation drove most of American political life. From slavery to the New Deal, political parties organized around economic interests and engaged in fervent debate over the best allocation of agonizingly scarce resources. But with the explosion of the nation's economy in the years after World War II, a new set of needs began to emerge—a search for meaning and self-expression on one side, and a quest for stability and a return to traditional values on the other.

In The Age of Abundance, Brink Lindsey offers a bold reinterpretation of the latter half of the twentieth century. In this sweeping history of postwar America, the tumult of racial and gender politics, the rise of the counterculture, and the conservative revolution of the 1980s and 1990s are portrayed in an entirely new light. Readers will learn how and why the contemporary ideologies of left and right emerged in response to the novel challenges of mass prosperity.

The political ideas that created the culture wars, however, have now grown obsolete. As the Washington Post aptly summarized Lindsey's take on the contradictions of American politics, "Republicans want to go home to the United States of the 1950s while Democrats want to work there." Struggling to replace today's stale conflicts is a new consensus that mixes the social freedom of the left with the economic freedom of the right into a potentially powerful ethos of libertarianism. The Age of Abundance reveals the secret formula of this remarkable alchemy. The book is a breathtaking reevaluation of our recent past—and will change the way we think about the future.

The New York Times - George F. Will

It took confidence for Brink Lindsey, of the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington, to venture onto this well-plowed ground with The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America s Politics and Culture. This constantly stimulating book vindicates that confidence. His thesis, stated ironically with Karl Marx s categories, is that in the second half of the 20th century, America left the realm of necessity and entered the realm of freedom. Americans live on the far side of a great fault line separating them from all prior human experience.

Until The 1950s, The Struggle To Feed, Clothe, And Employ The Nation Drove Most Of American Political Life. From Slavery To The New Deal, Political Parties Organized Around Economic Interests And Engaged In Fervent Debate Over The Best Allocation Of Agonizingly Scarce Resources. But With The Explosion Of The Nationʼs Economy In The Years After World War Ii, A New Set Of Needs Began To Emerge - A Search For Meaning And Self-expression On One Side, And A Quest For Stability And A Return To Traditional Values On The Other. In The Age Of Abundance, Brink Lindsey Offers A Bold Reinterpretation Of The Latter Half Of The Twentieth Century. In This Sweeping History Of Postwar America, The Tumult Of Racial And Gender Politics, The Rise Of The Counterculture, And The Conservative Revolution Of The 1980s And 1990s Are Portrayed In An Entirely New Light. Readers Will Learn How And Why The Contemporary Ideologies Of Left And Right Emerged In Response To The Novel Challenges Of Mass Prosperity. The Political Ideas That Created The Culture Wars, However, Have Now Grown Obsolete. As The Washington Post Aptly Summarized Lindseyʼs Take On The Contradictions Of American Politics, ʺ Republicans Want To Go Home To The United States Of The 1950s While Democrats Want To Work There.ʺ Struggling To Replace Todayʼs Stale Conflicts Is A New Consensus That Mixes The Social Freedom Of The Left With The Economic Freedom Of The Right Into A Potentially Powerful Ethos Of Libertarianism. The Age Of Abundance Reveals The Secret Formula Of This Remarkable Alchemy. The Book Is A Breathtaking Reevaluation Of Our Recent Past - And Will Change The Way We Think About The Future. Also Includes Information On Abortion, African Americans, America, Aquarian Awakening, Beat Bohemianism, George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Capitalism, Counterculture, Crime, Evangelical Revival, Family Life, Inequality Of Income, Richard Nixon, Politics, Religion, Sexual Mores, Women, Workplace, Youth Culture, Etc. The Realm Of Freedom -- Climbing Maslow's Pyramid -- Howl -- Signs And Wonders -- Learning To Fly -- Realignment -- In Borges' Library -- E Pluribus Unum?. Brink Lindsey. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. How America's post-WWII affluence led to today's divide between red states and blue states: “[Lindsey's] insights are frequently dazzling.” —Los Angeles TimesUntil the 1950s, the struggle to feed, clothe, and employ the nation drove most of American politics. From slavery to the New Deal, political parties organized around economic interests and engaged in fervent debate over the best allocation of agonizingly scarce resources. But with the explosion of the nation's economy in the years after World War II, a new set of needs began to emerge—a search for meaning and self-expression on one side, and a quest for stability and a return to traditional values on the other.In The Age of Abundance, Brink Lindsey offers a bold reinterpretation of the latter half of the twentieth century. In this sweeping history of postwar America, the tumult of racial and gender politics, the rise of the counterculture, and the conservative revolution of the 1980s and 1990s are portrayed in an entirely new light. Readers will learn how and why the contemporary ideologies of left and right emerged in response to the novel challenges of mass prosperity.The political ideas that created the culture wars, however, have now grown obsolete. Struggling to replace today's stale conflicts is a new consensus that mixes the social freedom of the left with the economic freedom of the right into a potentially powerful ethos of libertarianism. The Age of Abundance is “a wise, revealing book combining the long sweep of history with a documentarian's eye for detail” (Dallas Morning News).“Breathtaking analysis... pinpoints the current tensions between the political Left and Right to a 1967 San Francisco love-in and the opening of Oral Roberts University, both ‘eruptions of millenarian enthusiasm.'” —Booklist (starred review)“Scintillating.” —The New York Times Book Review“Provocative analysis... A thoughtful attempt to explain—and claim—the broad center in the middle of our political squabbling.” —Kirkus Reviews Until the 1950s, the struggle to feed, clothe, and employ the nation drove most of American political life. From slavery to the New Deal, political parties organized around economic interests and engaged in fervent debate over the best allocation of agonizingly scarce resources. But with the explosion of the nationʾs economy in the years after World War II, a new set of needs began to emerge - a search for meaning and self-expression on one side, and a quest for stability and a return to traditional values on the other. In The Age of Abundance, Brink Lindsey offers a bold reinterpretation of the latter half of the twentieth century. In this sweeping history of postwar America, the tumult of racial and gender politics, the rise of the counterculture, and the conservative revolution of the 1980s and 1990s are portrayed in an entirely new light. Readers will learn how and why the contemporary ideologies of left and right emerged in response to the novel challenges of mass prosperity. The political ideas that created the culture wars, however, have now grown obsolete. As the Washington Post aptly summarized Lindseyʾs take on the contradictions of American politics, ʺ Republicans want to go home to the United States of the 1950s while Democrats want to work there.ʺ Struggling to replace todayʾs stale conflicts is a new consensus that mixes the social freedom of the left with the economic freedom of the right into a potentially powerful ethos of libertarianism. The Age of Abundance reveals the secret formula of this remarkable alchemy. The book is a breathtaking reevaluation of our recent past - and will change the way we think about the future Contents......Page 5 Introduction......Page 7 1 The Realm of Freedom......Page 21 2 Climbing Maslow’s Pyramid......Page 65 3 Howl......Page 101 4 Signs and Wonders......Page 147 5 Learning to Fly......Page 185 6 Realignment......Page 229 7 In Borges’s Library......Page 273 8 E Pluribus Unum?......Page 313 Notes......Page 349 Bibliography......Page 369 Index......Page 385 Until the 1960s, scarcity and the struggle to clothe, feed and employ the nation drove most of US political life. But with the explosion of the nation's economy in the years after World War 2, a new set of needs began to emerge. Using Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, this book offers a reinterpretation of the latter half of the 20th century Title from PDF title page (viewed on June 5, 2007).