Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression [Paperback]

David E. Kyvig (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1566635845 | ISBN-13: 978-1566635844 | Publication Date: June 30, 2004

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. The details of work life, domestic life, and leisure activities make engrossing reading and bring the era clearly into focus.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

What were your grandparents doing in the 1920s and '30s? How did they spend their days and how were they affected by the popular culture? What were their work and domestic lives like? These are the questions Kyvig, a Bancroft Prize winner for Explicit and Authentic Acts and Northern Illinois University history professor, explores probingly in his new study. Kyvig covers everything from the development of the small pick-up truck to the spread of country and western music and shifting practices in religion and health care. He delineates how the mass production of cars changed people's buying habits with the introduction of credit, and how battery-powered radios meant rural folks could share the new mass culture with city dwellers. Kyvig also documents the massive impact—most of it negative—of Prohibition, a sign of the federal government's growing impact on people's lives, an impact greatly heightened by the New Deal. 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. 53 b&w photos.
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Review

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

(Washington Post )

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

(Atlantic Monthly )

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

(Walla Walla Union Bulletin )

This enjoyable read brings the period clearly into focus. (Forbes.Com )

Virtually encyclopedic in its coverage of a vast array of topics, yet it manages to be readable and engaging. (Ronald E. Butchart University Of Georgia )

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. (Daniels, Roger )

Daily Life in the United States, 1920–1940 is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the origins of contemporary America. (William L. O'Neill )

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.

(Publishers Weekly )

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

(Library Journal )

A happy marriage of political and social history.

(William E. Leuchtenburg )

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

(G. Wesley Johnson )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Ivan R Dee (June 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566635845
• ISBN-13: 978-1566635844
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,112 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, well-written, and insightful, November 9, 2004

By 

Lisa McCoy "book addict" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (Paperback)

The Great Depression is an event that tends to dominate the history of America from 1920-1940, and while it certainly had an impact, this impact was not uniformly felt throughout the country. Other factors helped shape the modern world we live in today, and many of them had their genesis in the period 1920-1940. Music, movies, diet, fashion, where people lived, what they did on dates, and even family planning -- this book covers it all and does so in a way that is easy to read and entertaining. If you think the Depression and Prohibition are all there was to life during this time, then I recommend you pick up this book for a more well-rounded view.

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A broad overview laced with fascinating details, December 6, 2005

By 

Amanda (Milwaukee, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (Paperback)

The automobile and electricity are so common in today's society that it is difficult to imagine life without them. It is easy to forget that at one time these things we take for granted were new innovations that altered every aspect of life. In Kyvig's thoughtful examination of American daily life through the 1920s and 1930s, he explores the innovations that changed daily life and the varying speeds at which changes were accepted. He begins his enlightening examination with a discussion of daily life in the 1920s, prior to many of the changes he later discusses. Then he smoothly transitions into a discussion of the technology that completely changed the lives of contemporary Americans in both rural and urban settings, including the automobile, electricity, radio and cinema. Kyvig's clever and insightful portrayal demonstrates the full implications of technology. For example, he shows how the automobile made it possible for people live farther from work, led to the school consolidation movement and changed dating rituals as teenagers ventured farther than their own front porches with their dates for the first time.
His discussion on the Great Depression, however, changes its focus to a discussion of government adminstration and programs, and is not as fascinating or focused on "daily life" of common people as the rest of his book.
This book was enjoyable to read and covered a variety of aspects on the daily lives of Americans, so it would have wide appeal for a number of readers. It is backed by solid scholarly research, and includes fascinating pictures that add to the enjoyment of the narrative. Kyvig has a true talent for writing, and this is apparent through reading his book. His study should not be overlooked as just another book on daily life in the 1920s and 1930s - it is an all-encompassing study that provides insight into a number of aspects of daily life. It also provides a detailed, fascinating history of the development of the automobile and its impacts on life.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very general, but worth the read, May 30, 2005

By 

E. Evans - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940: How Americans Lived Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression (Paperback)

Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940, by David E. Kyvig, traces the developments in American culture and lifestyle during this critical period. Using US Census Data, Kyvig calls attention to the demographic changes that occurred over these dynamic twenty years, one of the strong points of this book. Among the technological developments discussed are the automobile, electricity, radio and movies. There are two chapters devoted to the day-to-day aspects of life during that time covering such topics as food, fashion, hygiene, courtship, etc. Kyvig also discusses the impact of the Great Depression, the New Deal and the expanded role of government during that era.

As a former history teacher, this book reminds me strongly of an expanded version of the typical US History chapter covering this time period. It isn't terribly deep, but does provide a solid overview. It is well-written, easy to read, and is a good starting point for people interested in the time period (or for students who need help for a research paper). Those of us who want more detailed information will need to look elsewhere.