The Big Change: America Transforms Itself 1900-1950

I thought this was a good book as it discussed the Changes that happened in one of the most dyanimc times in American History. Two world wars, a world wide depression and the assimilation of new technologies, many new (airplane, radio and TV) and others maturing (telephones, electricity, and automobiles). The complete change in the quality and pace of life for individuals and society from 1900 to 1950 were dramatic. This is a good book to explain the changes and the effect it had. It also, without knowing it at the time sets up, as a precursor, the changes of the next 50 years.

Well, this book was recommended to me by a teacher who was surprised by the fact I went through my US History class without learning much about the first half of the twentieth century. I only knew about the New Deal & FDR. This book is wonderful. It gives a more colorful perspective on the first half of the twentieth than a textbook could ever and what's ironic is it doesn't talk about the New Deal as much as my US History teacher did. From this book, I've learned more what America was like and who were the truly big movers and shakers, and it wasn't always the president! If you like history and you want to read something from someone who actually lived through the "big change" (and want to read something less formal that a textbook and chuckle about situations of the past), I truly recommend this book. What's even more ironic is the book I have was one of the original copies which only cost 85 cents. Now it's up to about $25. For a paperback! What a change!

Nice piece of work that does a good job of tracing the transformations that took place in the first half of the century. I found an old copy at a bookstore for $20 in mint condition...on-line you may find it cheaper at an auction. Writing style is a bit dry, so the book does plod in some places. Still, a good starter for anyone wanting to better understand the growth of the USA from rural/isolationist to global superpower.