Made in America. Social history of American culture and character | Claude S. Fisher

American sociologist Claude S. Fisher examines the culture and character of Americans from the colonial era to the beginning of the 21st century, based on historical works and sociological surveys of the 20th century. In his book, he analyzes the changes in the material and social conditions of American life, their culture and character, and also tries to identify unchanging features. The book covers a wide range of topics in American social history, in particular, the emergence and development of middle-class bourgeois culture.

Fisher explores aspects such as physical and economic security, health, violence, material well-being, inequality, slavery, racial segregation, possessions, shopping and compulsive consumerism, materialism, social groups (family, neighbors, believers, friends, colleagues, formal and informal associations), individualism, voluntarism, contractualism, egalitarianism, liberalism, the position of women and children, the religious faith of Americans, their participation in public spaces and political life, housing and mass suburbanization.

A separate section is devoted to the mentality of Americans, in particular, introspection, self-improvement, construction of one's own "I", rational thinking, a sense of control over one's life, compassion, sentimentality and frank sexuality.

The book will be of interest not only to sociologists, historians, and cultural scientists, but also to a wide range of readers who want to learn more about American life over four centuries.