The Aspirin Age 1919-1941 [Paperback]

Isabel (editor) Leighton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1976

The essential events of American life in the chaotic years between the two World Wars by 22 outstanding writers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 491 pages
• Publisher: Simon and Schuster (1976)
• ISBN-10: 0671200623
• ISBN-13: 978-0671200626
• ASIN: B000HVW4SS
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,910,404 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History the Best Way: Straight from the Source, December 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aspirin Age: 1919-1941: The essential events of American Life in the chaotic years between the two World Wars (Paperback)

I first enjoyed this period in history, (United States, 20's and 30s), when I took my only upper division history class in the subject. Our professor stated his textbook principle quite clearly: "I only use primary sources, texts written by those that were there. I just don't believe in prefabricated history textbooks."

I didn't read this book during that course, but when I ran across it in a used bookstore, I bought it for the same reason my professor chose his sources: all the essays are written by people close to the subject. In this collection, you can read about Jack Dempsey from his most famous opponent, Gene Tunney. Or who better to tell you about Huey P. Long, America's demagogue and fascist, than one of Louisiana's only newspaper editors who had the fortitude to stand up to him. All of the book's authors have such a close relationship to their subject matter, which makes this collection more reliable than others, and much more readable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Candy for the brain, June 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aspirin Age: 1919-1941: The essential events of American Life in the chaotic years between the two World Wars (Paperback)

This book is just terrific. If you are interested in reading about the 20s and 30s, then you will certainly enjoy it. If you've never been interested in this period, then after reading this book, you might be! Articles range from what you might expect (albeit with a twist), like "Calvin Coolidge: A Study in Inertia" or "The Timely Death of President Harding." Others deal with subjects that made the news at the time, but are perhaps less well remembered today, such as the feats of Izzie and Moe (the Prohibition police), the Dionne quintuplets, and the wreck of the "Morro Castle." Some other topics included: Huey Long, Sacco and Vanzetti, the Crash, the first 100 days of the New Deal, Pearl Harbor Sunday, Wendell Wilkie, Versailles, Aimee Semple McPherson, the Lindberghs, the death of Starr Faithful, the night the Martians landed, the King and the girl from Baltimore. And there's still more...
This book is also ideal to introduce the period to either high school of college students, or to use as background material. The teacher could either assign the book in its entirety or simply choose a few articles. It will make history come alive for kids.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A delightful walk through the twenties and thirties., September 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Aspirin Age: 1919-1941: The essential events of American Life in the chaotic years between the two World Wars (Paperback)

"The Aspirin Age" is a delightful walk through twenty-two tumultuous years in American history. This very "readable" book contains a series of essays on a diverse array of topics during the period from 1919 through 1941. The book's chapters are all essays written by the nation's best practicing historians. Isabel Leighton's fine editing provides the continuity for these historical vignettes which enhances the quality of an already excellent work.

The topic selected for each year is not necessarily the most burning issue of that year. However, each year's topic captures a unique facet of the American psyche that invariably adds to the reader's understanding of other, perhaps more "important", issues of that era. For that reason it is a very useful addition to any student reading list in American history courses covering the Twenty-Two years dubbed "The Aspirin Age" by editor, Isabel Leighton. Indeed, most people encounter this delightful work as required reading in such courses. I first encountered "The Aspirin Age" while an undergraduate at Southwest Texas University. It was on the required reading list for a course I was taking there on the depression era. There were a number of other books that were required reading for that course. In addition to these works, the professor required us to read one or two chapters per week of "The Aspirin Age" to supplement our other reading.

Although the professor certainly intended our class to read the book more or less "piecemeal" so that we would be able to understand the social and political context of the course materials, it did not work out that way in my case. As usual I failed to follow the professor's instructions relevant to to my reading assignment for the course. I started reading the book in compliance with my reading assignment but soon found that I could not put the book down. Consequently, I finished it a day or two after starting my first assigned readings. "The Aspirin Age" was an unexpected pleasure.

If I learned nothing else as a history major, I learned that not all historical writing is created equal and that scholarly treatment of a topic does not necessarily equate to entertaining reading. I was very impressed that this book that I "had to read" turned out to be such an enjoyable reading experience.

I kept my copy of "The Aspirin Age" even after I completed the course. After I graduated from Southwest Texas I began teaching history and graduation and was happy to use "The Aspirin Age" with my own students. They enjoyed the book as much as I did as a student. The book quickly engages the student's interest. The interest level is such that the students finish the book before they have time to think about the fact that they are reading a scholarly work. It's fun to watch them devour the book. I heartily recommend the book to anyone who enjoys reading crisp,well crafted history. Most people encounter "The Aspirin Age" like I did; as required reading in one history class or another. The book is a joy to read and a wonderful teaching resource. It is kind of a shame that "The Aspirin Age's" academic pedigree is so impeccable. If a non academic friend gave you a copy of it for your birthday, after reading it you'd probably appreciate that friend a little more.