World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation [Paperback]

National Building Museum (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 1995

Donald Albrecht is Guest Curator of the exhibition "World War II and the American Dream" at the National Building Museum.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Donald Albrecht is Guest Curator of the exhibition "World War II and the American Dream" at the National Building Museum.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (April 18, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262510839
• ISBN-13: 978-0262510837
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,008,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Worl War II and the American Dream, April 28, 2009

By 

Wayne R. Klatt "knowitall" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation (Paperback)

This is text-and-photo book covers an essential period that is little understood nowadays: how the United States was turned into a war machine. One only wishes that it was longer, especially since there is plenty of white space. Readers will learn not only more about the homefront in 1941-1945 but also the postwar period. But pinning the book to "the American Dream" is a marketing stretch. The people were either too busy or needed to put the dream on hold, but after the Depression years the energizing of an entire nation at least made millions believe that "the American Dream" would be possible.

5.0 out of 5 stars brilliant research and documentation--a design necessity, October 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: World War II and the American Dream: How Wartime Building Changed a Nation (Paperback)

Albrecht is a master historian and curator. I have never seen a more thorough or loving chronology of the various experimental building technologies that flourished directly after WWII.This is essential reading for architects, industrial designers and the general public looking for ways to make sense of the built environment after the war.