The Levittowners - (Legacy Editions) by Herbert J Gans (Paperback)

About the Book

Levittown became the site of one of urban sociology's most famous community studies, Herbert J. Gans's The Levittowners. The product of two years of living in Levittown, the work chronicles the invention of a new community and its institutions, social and political life, and the former city residents' adaptation to suburban living.

Book Synopsis

In 1955, Levitt and Sons purchased most of Willingboro Township, New Jersey and built 11,000 homes. This, their third Levittown, became the site of one of urban sociology's most famous community studies, Herbert J. Gans's The Levittowners. The product of two years of living in Levittown, the work chronicles the invention of a new community and its major institutions, the beginnings of social and political life, and the former city residents' adaptation to suburban living. Gans uses his research to reject the charge that suburbs are sterile and pathological. First published in 1967, The Levittowners is a classic of participant-observer ethnography that also paints a sensitive portrait of working-class and lower-middle-class life in America. This new edition features a foreword by Harvey Molotch that reflects on Gans's challenges to conventional wisdom.

Review Quotes

The Levittowners does more than illuminate for us American suburbia; it also contributes to our understanding of that elusive matter, the quality of American life.

--Nathan Glazer "Harvard University "

A thoughtful, provocative study.... Deserves careful, wide attention.

--Michael Harrington "Partisan Review "

All critics of suburbia will henceforth be obliged to confront [Gans].... There may or may not be more to heaven and earth than is dreamed of in suburbia, but the burden of proof now rests on the critics.

--Marvin Bressler "The Public Interest "

One of those sociologists... who see as their primary task the destruction of social myths.... A vigorous hatchet job.

--John Goldthorpe "New Statesman "

The final academic statement to dime-store sociology applied to the suburbs. It is the best of all the suburban community studies of the post World War II era, but it also sheds much light on the nature of contemporary American community life.

--William M. Dobriner "Journal of Health and Social Behavior "

This sensitive and thoughtful book helps us to remember that, in the years ahead, social life need no longer, and indeed must no longer, consist of one massive zero-sum game.

--Robert Boguslaw "American Journal of Sociology "

Praise for the previous edition:

"It will be a book well read by students of sociology and town planning, and from its reading they will profit greatly."--American Sociological Review

"The Levittowners does more than illuminate for us American suburbia; it also contributes to our understanding of that elusive matter, the quality of American life."--Nathan Glazer, Harvard University

"A thoughtful, provocative study.... Deserves careful, wide attention."--Michael Harrington, Partisan Review

"All critics of suburbia will henceforth be obliged to confront [Gans].... There may or may not be more to heaven and earth than is dreamed of in suburbia, but the burden of proof now rests on the critics."--Marvin Bressler, The Public Interest

"This sensitive and thoughtful book helps us to remember that, in the years ahead, social life need no longer, and indeed must no longer, consist of one massive zero-sum game."--Robert Boguslaw, American Journal of Sociology

"The final academic statement to dime-store sociology applied to the suburbs. It is the best of all the suburban community studies of the post World War II era, but it also sheds much light on the nature of contemporary American community life."--William M. Dobriner, Journal of Health and Social Behavior

"Refutes the theses of many suburbia novels and articles... No clobber job, Gans' study is an excellent assessment on religious, political, social and moral levels of the perfect subject for contained investigation."--Kirkus Reviews

"One of those sociologists... who see as their primary task the destruction of social myths.... A vigorous hatchet job."--John Goldthorpe, New Statesman

A thoughtful, provocative study... deserves careful, wide attention.

--Michael Harrington "Partisan Review "

"The Levittowners" does more than illuminate for us American suburbia; it also contributes to our understanding of that elusive matter, the quality of American life.--Nathan Glazer, Harvard University

A thoughtful, provocative study... deserves careful, wide attention.--Michael Harrington "Partisan Review "

All critics of suburbia will henceforth be obliged to confront [Gans]... There may or may not be more to heaven and earth than is dreamed of in suburbia, but the burden of proof now rests on the critics.--Marvin Bressler "The Public Interest "

One of those sociologists... who see as their primary task the destruction of social myths. ...A vigorous hatchet job.--John Goldthorpe "New Statesman "

The final academic statement to dime-store sociology applied to the suburbs. It is the best of all the suburban community studies of the post World War II era, but it also sheds much light on the nature of contemporary American community life.--William M. Dobriner "Journal of Health and Social Behavior "

About the Author

Herbert J. Gans is professor of sociology emeritus at Columbia University. His many books include Imagining America in 2033 (2008), Deciding What's News (1979), and The Urban Villagers (1962).