Encyclopedia of War and American Society (3-Volume Set) [Hardcover]

Peter Karsten (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0761930973 | ISBN-13: 978-0761930976 | Publication Date: November 18, 2005

The impact of war on American society has been extensive throughout our nation’s history. War has transformed economic patterns, government policy, public sentiments, social trends and cultural expression.  

SAGE Reference is proud to announce the Encyclopedia of War and American Society. This Encyclopedia is a comprehensive, highly-credentialed multidisciplinary historical work that examines the numerous ways wars affect societies. The three volumes cover a wide range of general thematic categories, issues, and topics that address not only the geopolitical effects of war, but also show how the U.S. engagement in national and international conflicts has affected the social and cultural arena.  

Key Features

• Explores and analyzes three types of effects of war-direct effects, interactive relationships, and indirect effects-to illustrate the range of connections between war and American society
• Probes the correlations between our wartime expeditions and the experiences of the greater American society not limited to just the war years but also demonstrates how the wartime event impacted society after the conflicts ended
• Offers readers a host of documents including passages from letters, diaries, autobiographies, official documents, novels, poems, songs, and cartoons, as well as images, graphs, and a number of tables of relevant data, surveys, and public opinion polls to extend their research capabilities
• Concentrates mostly on the last 100 years to give more coverage on this often neglected wartime era

Key Themes 

• Arts and Culture
• Civil-Military Relations
• Economy and Labor
• Education (both military and civilian)
• Environment and Health
• Journalism and Media
• Law and Justice
• Military Leaders and Figures
• Planning, Command and Control
• Race, Gender, and Ethnicity
• Religion
• Science and Technology
• Veterans' Issues and Experiences
• The Wars themselves and their civilian and military leaders

The Encyclopedia of War and American Society is a must-have reference for all academic libraries as well as a welcome addition to any social science reference collection.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It is indisputable that war affects society and those effects can last long after the actual war years. This set explores the relationships between war and the American society. Editor Karsten, four associate editors, and 153 other expert contributors have produced an excellent reference work chronicling 23 wars, interventions, and peacekeeping operations in which U.S. military have been involved, from the colonial wars through the present-day Iraq War.

The 330 alphabetically arranged entries range from general overviews to articles on specific topics. As outlined in the "Reader's Guide" in volume 1, entries fall into 15 major categories, among them "Art, Culture, and Memory"; "Media and Journalism"; "People--Military Leaders and Figures"; "Planning, Strategy, and Command and Control"; and "Wars." In his introduction, editor Karsten explains that in addition to offering "substantial essays on the wars Americans have fought, their civilian and military leaders, and their major military institutions," the encyclopedia "probes the connections between our wartime expeditions and the experiences of the larger American society." Examples of entries include Antiwar movements, Baby boom, National system of interstate and defense highways, the movie Apocalypse Now, the television show M*A*S*H, and the comic strip Beetle Bailey. See references guide the user to the correct entry. Entries are well written and easy to read, and each includes a selected bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and a list of related entries within the set.

Volume 1 contains a list of entries, a list of related documents, and the "Reader's Guide." In addition to entries, volume 3 includes excellent supplemental material: a chronology, 1607-2004; more than 150 pertinent documents; an extensive general bibliography; a list of contributors; and a general index. The documents include excerpts from official documents, autobiographies, letters, diaries, and novels as well as poems, songs, cartoons, tables of data, surveys, and opinion polls. One of the more interesting documents is an excerpt from a 1917 "Alpha IQ Tests Administered to Recruits." The source and a list of related entries are given for each document.

There is some overlap with the chronologically arranged Americans at War: Society, Culture, and the Homefront (Macmillan, 2004), but Encyclopedia of War and American Society has a heavier military focus. Academic and large public libraries would find this a useful reference work for their collections. kaye Talley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

This new illustrated history reference work focuses on the past 100 years, since that is the period for wars that have most shaped the present environment in the US. The 328 signed entries from 158 expert contributors are arranged in an A-to-Z format, and cover important individuals, events, books, movies, organizations, themes, and conflicts. . . .This more academically oriented title is suitable for all collections that can afford it. (D. K. Blewett CHOICE )

"While librarians have numerous choices for materials covering warfare and society, there are not as many that cover warfare and its impact on society as broadly or as well as Karsten's. If a library is looking to add to its coverage of wars and their impact or fill a gap, this is an excellent choice. The primary documents and the work's breadth will ensure that a variety of readers find it useful and engaging." (Lisa A. Ennis Library Journal Review )

"Editor Karsten, four associate editors, and 153 other expert contributors have produced an excellent reference work . . . Entries are well written and easy to read, and each includes a selected bibliography, suggestions for further reading, and a list of related entries within the set." (Kaye Talley )

"This superb resource, a detailed work examining war and its effects on facets of America, is both comprehensive and readable. It is sure to be a popular reference set and will serve as an extremely useful tool for young scholars seeking insight into the events and their repercussions." (Mike Brown )

"Encyclopedia of War and American Society fills a gap in U.S. war-reference not only by its unique theoretical manner of coverage but also in its subject matter. Encyclopedia of War and American Society is highly recommended for undergraduate and graduate academic libraries as well as high school libraries supporting advanced history courses." (Kristi L. Plamer )

"This comprehensive guide will serve could serve, high school, public and academic collections well." (Gale- Reference Reviews Lawrence Looks at Books )

"This set should be in public and academic libraries, and considered for high school library collections as needed." (Dana McDougald )

"The articles are well researched and are filled with solid anecdotes as well as intelligent analysis and commentary. Most reference books about war do not cover the domestic front as well as this work or for the entire length of United States history. Community colleges, four year institutions and graduate schools would do well to add this scholarly work to their collections." (ARBA )

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1392 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc (November 18, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761930973
• ISBN-13: 978-0761930976
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.3 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,141,566 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)