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The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation

Description:

"The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually means.
In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen begins by noting that the United States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and consolidated in the Constitution. At the core of these ideals lies the ambiguous but galvanizing concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across racial, class, and other demographic lines. Cullen then traces a series of overlapping American dreams: the quest for of religious freedom that brought the Pilgrims to the "New World"; the political freedom promised in the Declaration; the dream of upward mobility, embodied most fully in the figure of Abraham Lincoln; the dream of home ownership, from homestead to suburb; the intensely idealistic--and largely unrealized--dream of equality articulated most vividly by Martin Luther King, Jr. The version of the American Dream that dominates our own time--what Cullen calls "the Dream of the Coast"--is one of personal fulfillment, of fame and fortune all the more alluring if achieved without obvious effort, which finds its most insidious expression in the culture of Hollywood.
For anyone seeking to understand a shifting but central idea in American history, The American Dream is an interpretive tour de force.
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Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read

M.W. · 24 December 2018

Easy to read-great insight and helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well crafted rendition of our national heritage

R. · 9 March 2015

A marvelous synopsis of the historical tapestry behind the dream. A must read for any undergraduate, postgraduate, or connoisseur of American government/politics.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.

D.C.L. · 20 January 2010

A concise and readable account of the idea that shapes a nation, and exploration of how that idea has both remained and changed since Puritans times. If you have any interest in understanding the United States, this book is a must.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and well researched but heavy going

T. · 4 December 2015

I wanted to explore the whole concept of the American Dream and I liked the way the author utilised different periods of, and characters from, American economic, political and social history. Clearly, the author has a passion for his subject and has researched it well. However, I thought the book had way too much padding in places and was almost self indulgent - at times the author laboured the point and it all became a grind. It's a real shame as the best parts of the book are compelling; sometimes, I'm afraid, less is more and a punchier delivery of such strong material would go a long way towards keeping today's time poor readers happy !

3.0 out of 5 stars good but not great, is a good starting point

B.D.H. · 29 April 2011

Is informative, but is written from 1st person in parts and lacks academic references throughout. But author seems to knows there stuff..

A thoughtful read

R. · 18 April 2014

A short and very interesting read. I found many thought provoking and profound insights in this short book that explores the various ways in which Americans have defined the "American Dream" over several centuries. Also a good reminder that we are still defining and pursuing that dream, but getting it right requires work and attention by all.

Tolles Buch!

L.G. · 7 August 2013

Dieses Buch hat mir bei der Suche nach einer Definition für den "American Dream" und beim Schreiben meiner Seminararbeit super weitergeholfen. Bin absolut zufrieden damit und man erfährt nebengleich gleich noch jede Menge über die amerikanische Geschichte. Kann ich nur weiterempfehlen!

A History of the United States through the lense of the American Dream

M.G. · 12 July 2020

I really liked reading this book. I teach ethics in college and wanted to get some basic historical background information about the genesis of the American Dream as an ethical framework for how we live on this continent. Cullen gave me valuable insights into the diversity of the Dream, but also into what the varied instances of the Dream share in common. The book is intended for college students and educated laymen, but it is well documented and ends with a huge list of source material that academics will appreciate. Also note that this book is not entirely a factual account : it also reads as an essay of sorts. The author is explicitly looking to the past for guidance in dealing with today’s fractured American political landscape.

Good Book

C.J. · 16 July 2013

We have skimmed through it to see what's ahead of us when we do get a chance to read it, I'm sure that it willbe a great book, once we've finished it.. 3 books to read over the summer take a bit of time.

Five Stars

T. · 5 November 2016

It is a very interesting book that's holds many facts that most Americans should be aware of.

Visit the Jim Cullen (Author) Store

The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation

Product ID: K0195173252
Condition: New

4.5

AED12234

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Type: Paperback
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United Kingdom

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

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Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

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Visit the Jim Cullen (Author) Store

The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation

Product ID: K0195173252
Condition: New

4.5

Type: Paperback

AED12234

Price includes VAT & Import Duties
Availability: In Stock

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over AED 200

Return and refund policies

Imported From: United Kingdom

At bolo.ae, we stand behind the authenticity and quality of every product we sell. We guarantee that all items offered on our website are 100% genuine, sourced directly from authorized distributors, trusted partners, or the original brands themselves.

We do not sell counterfeit, replica, or unauthorized goods. Each product undergoes thorough inspection and verification at our consolidation and fulfilment centers to ensure it meets our strict authenticity and quality standards before being shipped and delivered to you.

If you ever have concerns regarding the authenticity of a product purchased from us, please contact Bolo Support . We will review your inquiry promptly and, if necessary, provide documentation verifying authenticity or offer a suitable resolution.

Your trust is our top priority, and we are committed to maintaining transparency and integrity in every transaction.

All product information, including images, descriptions, and reviews, is provided by third-party vendors. bolo.ae is not responsible for any claims, promotions, or representations made within product content or images. For more accurate or detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer directly or reach out to Bolo Support.

Unless otherwise stated during checkout, all prices displayed on the product page include applicable taxes and import duties.

bolo.ae operates in accordance with the laws and regulations of United Arab Emirates. Any items found to be restricted or prohibited for sale within the UAE will be cancelled prior to shipment. We take proactive measures to ensure that only products permitted for sale in United Arab Emirates are listed on our website.

All items are shipped by air, and any products classified as “Dangerous Goods (DG)” under IATA regulations will be removed from the order and cancelled.

All orders are processed manually, and we make every effort to process them promptly once confirmed. Products cancelled due to the above reasons will be permanently removed from listings across the website.

Description:

"The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually means.
In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen begins by noting that the United States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the Declaration of Independence and consolidated in the Constitution. At the core of these ideals lies the ambiguous but galvanizing concept of the American Dream, a concept that for better and worse has proven to be amazingly elastic and durable for hundreds of years and across racial, class, and other demographic lines. Cullen then traces a series of overlapping American dreams: the quest for of religious freedom that brought the Pilgrims to the "New World"; the political freedom promised in the Declaration; the dream of upward mobility, embodied most fully in the figure of Abraham Lincoln; the dream of home ownership, from homestead to suburb; the intensely idealistic--and largely unrealized--dream of equality articulated most vividly by Martin Luther King, Jr. The version of the American Dream that dominates our own time--what Cullen calls "the Dream of the Coast"--is one of personal fulfillment, of fame and fortune all the more alluring if achieved without obvious effort, which finds its most insidious expression in the culture of Hollywood.
For anyone seeking to understand a shifting but central idea in American history, The American Dream is an interpretive tour de force.
Read more

Review:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to read

M.W. · 24 December 2018

Easy to read-great insight and helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well crafted rendition of our national heritage

R. · 9 March 2015

A marvelous synopsis of the historical tapestry behind the dream. A must read for any undergraduate, postgraduate, or connoisseur of American government/politics.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read.

D.C.L. · 20 January 2010

A concise and readable account of the idea that shapes a nation, and exploration of how that idea has both remained and changed since Puritans times. If you have any interest in understanding the United States, this book is a must.

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and well researched but heavy going

T. · 4 December 2015

I wanted to explore the whole concept of the American Dream and I liked the way the author utilised different periods of, and characters from, American economic, political and social history. Clearly, the author has a passion for his subject and has researched it well. However, I thought the book had way too much padding in places and was almost self indulgent - at times the author laboured the point and it all became a grind. It's a real shame as the best parts of the book are compelling; sometimes, I'm afraid, less is more and a punchier delivery of such strong material would go a long way towards keeping today's time poor readers happy !

3.0 out of 5 stars good but not great, is a good starting point

B.D.H. · 29 April 2011

Is informative, but is written from 1st person in parts and lacks academic references throughout. But author seems to knows there stuff..

A thoughtful read

R. · 18 April 2014

A short and very interesting read. I found many thought provoking and profound insights in this short book that explores the various ways in which Americans have defined the "American Dream" over several centuries. Also a good reminder that we are still defining and pursuing that dream, but getting it right requires work and attention by all.

Tolles Buch!

L.G. · 7 August 2013

Dieses Buch hat mir bei der Suche nach einer Definition für den "American Dream" und beim Schreiben meiner Seminararbeit super weitergeholfen. Bin absolut zufrieden damit und man erfährt nebengleich gleich noch jede Menge über die amerikanische Geschichte. Kann ich nur weiterempfehlen!

A History of the United States through the lense of the American Dream

M.G. · 12 July 2020

I really liked reading this book. I teach ethics in college and wanted to get some basic historical background information about the genesis of the American Dream as an ethical framework for how we live on this continent. Cullen gave me valuable insights into the diversity of the Dream, but also into what the varied instances of the Dream share in common. The book is intended for college students and educated laymen, but it is well documented and ends with a huge list of source material that academics will appreciate. Also note that this book is not entirely a factual account : it also reads as an essay of sorts. The author is explicitly looking to the past for guidance in dealing with today’s fractured American political landscape.

Good Book

C.J. · 16 July 2013

We have skimmed through it to see what's ahead of us when we do get a chance to read it, I'm sure that it willbe a great book, once we've finished it.. 3 books to read over the summer take a bit of time.

Five Stars

T. · 5 November 2016

It is a very interesting book that's holds many facts that most Americans should be aware of.

Similar suggestions by Bolo

More from this brand

Share with

Or share with link

https://www.bolo.ae/products/K0195173252