From the Bookshelves: American Dream in the 21st Century edited by Sandra Hanson and John White

 
The American Dream in the 21st Century edited by Sandra Hanson and John White The American Dream has long been a dominant theme in U.S. culture, one with enduring significance, but these are difficult times for dreamers. The editors of and contributors to The American Dream in the 21st Century examine the American Dream historically, socially, and economically and consider its intersection with politics, religion, race, gender, and generation.

The conclusions presented in this short, readable volume provide both optimism for the faith that most Americans have in the possibility of achieving the American Dream and a realistic assessment of the cracks in the dream. The last presidential election offered hope, but the experts here warn about the need for better programs and policies that could make the dream a reality for a larger number of Americans.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Making of and Persistence of the American Dream • John Kenneth White and Sandra L. Hanson

1. Twilight’s Gleaming: The American Dream and the Ends of Republics • Jim Cullen

2. The Politics of the American Dream, 1980 to 2008 • Michael C. Kimmage

3. The Presidency and the Making of the American Dream • John Kenneth White

4. Dreaming in Black and White • James W. Loewen

5. Whose Dream? Gender and the American Dream • Sandra L. Hanson

6. Want Meets Necessity in the New American Dream • John Zogby

7. Religion and the American Dream: A Catholic Reflection in a Generational Context • William V. D’Antonio

Conclusions: The American Dream: Where Are We? • Sandra L. Hanson and John Kenneth White

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