First published 2015
America's middle class powered the nation's economic dominance after World War II. Peter Kiernan, a New York Times bestselling author, traces how this educated and skilled core group built unprecedented prosperity under unique historical conditions. The story unfolds through individual experiences that reveal both triumph and struggle across three decades of dramatic change. Kiernan shows how global forces and domestic policies reshaped middle class life, often excluding many Americans from the prosperity others enjoyed. His research reveals fractures that existed from the beginning, challenging nostalgic views of middle class unity. The book presents a global perspective on middle class decline while identifying opportunities for renewal. Kiernan argues that America retains the skills and talent the world demands. He calls for embracing the original American Mojo that created middle class prominence before other nations claim that advantage. The book offers both diagnosis and prescription for restoring middle class promise.
Genres: american, politics, economics, non-fiction, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: diagnosis-and-prescription, original-american-mojo
Setting: America, United States
Period: Post-World War II, Three Decades
464 pages · Paperback · Turner