First published 2002
Four distinguished historians examine how the impulse to "make it new" shaped American civilization across three centuries. They trace innovation from the founding of a new republic and the birth of corporate structures in the 1700s, through massive industrial transformation and urban growth in the 1800s, to jazz culture and modern state formation in the 1900s. The authors weave together political developments, economic changes, social movements, and cultural shifts to show how innovation drove American history. They also explore the boundaries and failures of this innovative spirit. The book presents a comprehensive view of how Americans repeatedly reinvented their society, economy, and culture while revealing the constraints that limited these transformations.
Genres: history, american, non-fiction
Vibes: analytical, comprehensive, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-perspective, societal-evolution
Setting: America, United States
Period: 18th Century, 19th Century, 20th Century
1086 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company