In the sixties, as the nation anticipated the conquest of space, the defeat of poverty, and an end to injustice at home and abroad, no goal seemed ...
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reviews
Sep 23, 2009
Bob
rated it: 
Thomas Hine achieves his goal of "an attempt to evoke an era" but not much else in this survey of the period 1969-1981. Mostly he moves from descriptions of cultural trends and a few moments important to aging baby boomers, without much else. A veteran journalist, Hine is good on the details, but short on the argument. As a result, the book reads like an extended People magazine special issue.
Hines ignores such cultural trends as rap music (and culture), punk, and comix More...
Hines ignores such cultural trends as rap music (and culture), punk, and comix More...
Jan 01, 2011
A social history of the decade, with an emphasis on fashion and design. It was fun to read because of all the pictures. My daughter also enjoyed looking at all the pictures with me. The premise is probably too oversimplified to be deeply true, but I haven't read a better explanation of the 70s. People were depressed by shortages and world problems, so they began questioning the monolithic culture that had been handed down to them, and began going off in search of their own answers. Back to the l
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Nov 12, 2011
robert
rated it: 
In the seventies, the United States "fell into a great funk. But when things fall apart you can take the fragments and make something fresh. . . . Despair at the old way of doing things gave license to try new things. . . . To live in the seventies was to live in a fallen world, one of promises broken and trust betrayed. . . . The failure of old formulas created an atmosphere of freedom, a sense of possibility that produced everything from the personal computer to the discotheque. That free
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Jun 01, 2009
Cyndy
rated it:
I grew up in the seventies (graduated from high school in 1977) so I was really able to relate to this book. I remember all the fads, the shortages, etc. Total nostalgia for me!
Can't believe the CB radio fad wasn't mentioned though.
Can't believe the CB radio fad wasn't mentioned though.
Jan 31, 2008
Lara
rated it: 
I admit it - I love the 70's. I love the clothes, the music, the hair, the cars, the tv shows - everything. I guess it's because I grew up then, but how can you not smile at the thought of red plaid bell bottom pants? (Yes, I had a pair myself.) This book celebrates the design of the 70's but also the changing cultural norms, politics, and society. It was all about texture apparently. The book goes into areas such as the evolving work place, home decor, the rise of houseplants, and much mo
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Aug 18, 2008
Staci
rated it:
To be honest, I felt like I was reading an old high school yearbook, although, unlike our high school yearbook, the words were all spelled correctly.
But nonetheless, lots of the trends he describes seemed just as likely to be media phenomenon as real developments in culture.
But nonetheless, lots of the trends he describes seemed just as likely to be media phenomenon as real developments in culture.
Feb 03, 2008
Needleroozer
rated it:
Cassidy sent me this book all about the 70s. It was really enlightening to me, someone who was born in 1971, but didn't know much about the decade. I'm glad to know what was going on during my formative years. A good read with nice pictures.
Oct 28, 2008
Mitch
rated it:
Hine's thesis is not so new: Schulman started it all with his book, The Seventies, BUT Hine brings a design perspective, which since it is the 70s, adds to all the weirdness. He tries to make sense of all the brown and orange.
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