I've never been so nauseated by such a well-written history book. The Conservative movement sweeps the nation, political power consolidates in the South, and Reagan wins in the end, every time. If you're bummed out by today's ignorant political climate, this fascinating book goes a long way in explaining why.

I found this book at a library book sale several years ago. I realized I didn't know much about the seventies (any time I existed during them, I was too wee to know what was going on, and much can be said for the early 80s, too). After watching Mrs. America on Hulu about the ERA, I realized how much I didn't know about the seventies. So, this book made sense in line with that show, and it added to my knowledge. Fascinating!

read for school i liked the section on ERA and Jimmy Carter’s presidency

I finally understand the significance of and historical context for my parents' copy of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" that was a coffee table staple in our household. I just might dig that bad boy out to crack the pages and explore that unique place where seagulls, philosophy, and self-improvement intersect.

not bad.

This is not a comprehensive review of history pertaining to the seventies. It specifically explores the shift in American culture and society which originated in the seventies. It is compelling and confirms its thesis by following through well into the late 80's and 90's. Worth a read.

A little undeveloped in some areas but works well as an overview and a framework for further reading. I'm just now starting to get interested in the history of this period, and it's interesting to get context on things that I vaguely remember from childhood.

Great topic. Pretty academic. Authors bias is fairly strong.

Book is okay if you're reading it on your own as I did. If you were taking as per of a history class and got more detail I'm sure it would be better. This book has a lot of information crammed into a small space so you can easily be confused.

I appreciated this book's reminder that our current political/cultural/geographic divisions are not that different than the divisions that were originally exploited by Nixon and Reagan, if not by others even earlier. Further, the book makes a compelling case that the current identity group politics of the left really started in the 1970s. Nevertheless, I found it ultimately unsatisfying because it covered so much ground so superficially.

For class--one of the most comprehensive and lucid scholarly accounts of this decade in American history yet written. Good for undergraduate teaching.

The book reads like a long graduate thesis, at times, especially at the beginning. However, what makes this book solid, in my opinion, is Dr. Schulman's use of pop culture (music and movies) to validate his arguments. He further evolves said arguments from said references further, into changes in government and society, along with demonstrating the 1970s impact on America overall today.