Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 - by David E Kyvig (Paperback)

About the Book

The twenties and thirties witnessed dramatic changes in American life: increasing urbanization, technological innovation, cultural upheaval, and economic disaster. In this fascinating book, the prize-winning historian David E. Kyvig describes everyday life in these decades, wh...

Book Synopsis

The twenties and thirties witnessed dramatic changes in American life: increasing urbanization, technological innovation, cultural upheaval, and economic disaster. In this fascinating book, the prize-winning historian David E. Kyvig describes everyday life in these decades, when automobiles and home electricity became commonplace, when radio and the movies became broadly popular.

Review Quotes

Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the origins of contemporary America.

A happy marriage of political and social history.

An excellent popular approach to an important subject by a well respected historian.

David Kyvig's Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 is an excellent social history which examines how 'ordinary people' reacted to the massive changes during what have been called the 'prosperity' and 'depression' decades.

In the midst of his quite lucid and readable analysis, the author also touches on race, gender, class and the differences between rural and urban environments. In sum, Kyvig's book represents a penetrating information-packed portrait of Main Street USA, during tumultuous times.

Kyvig regularly comes up with illuminating details . . . and new ways of thinking about familiar subjects. . . . This is an unusually satisfying book.

Kyvig--a respected historian . . . writes in an agreeably lucid style . . . about subjects that should be of immediate interest to all readers.

Stands strong on a bedrock of solid research and clear writing.

The details of work life, domestic life, and leisure activities make engrossing reading . . . on a level we can all understand.

This enjoyable read brings the period clearly into focus.

Virtually encyclopedic in its coverage of a vast array of topics, yet it manages to be readable and engaging.

About the Author

David E. Kyvig is professor of history at Northern Illinois University. He has written a number of books in American history, including Explicit and Authentic Acts, which was awarded the Bancroft Prize. He lives in DeKalb, Illinois.