The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager - Hardcover

Hine, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0380973588 ISBN 13: 9780380973583

Publisher: William Morrow, 1999

Synopsis

A social history of U.S. teenagers focuses attention on this uniquely American social construct, exploring its impact on the nation from the Puritans to the present. 25,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

Providing a historical perspective on a modern phenomenon is no easy task, but Thomas Hine has done an admirable job cataloging that ever-changing creature we know as the American teenager. Beginning with a look at colonial times and ending with the present-day burger-flipping menaces portrayed in the press, The Rise and Fall of the American Teenager is a fascinating look at a culture that we take for granted in these times, yet is quite a recent development. Looking deeply at the economic and educational realities of people ages 10 through 20 over the last 300 years, Hine takes readers through a world where teens were expected to contribute greatly to their family's financial well-being; in fact, in the early years of the industrial revolution, employers would often refuse to hire the head of the household unless he had several sons to offer as part of a package deal. While the first few chapters cover 50 to 100 years in one shot, time moves less rapidly beginning with the 20th century, and each decade earns its own complete chapter. Using personal stories from revolutionary-era students, 19th-century millworkers and immigrants, and classic all-American cheerleaders from the 1950s, we're given an accurate picture of what life was really like for inexperienced kids. The evolution of modern education is closely examined and will provide a wealth of interesting insights for today's educators. What was once meant as a viable alternative to the college experience has now simply become a holding pen for teens, some who may go on to a university, some who are destined to join the ranks of the perpetually underemployed. The last chapter offers a few possible suggestions for bringing realistic change into the current system; the rest of the book is sure to provide plenty of inspiration for readers to invent their own set of educational possibilities. --Jill Lightner

About the Author:

Thomas Hine is the author of three previous books: Populuxe, Facing Tomorrow, and The Total Package. He was the architecture and design critic of the Philadelphia Inquirer from 1973 until 1996, during which time he wrote more than 1,000 articles. He is a regular contributor to The Sunday New York Times "Arts and Leisure" section and has also written for Esquire, The New York Times Book Review, GQ, Slate, and other publications. Mr. Hine, lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0380973588
• ISBN 13: 9780380973583
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 324