From one of the nation’s leading experts on the American family, a book that explores the state of marriage in America today; its evolution c...
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reviews
Jan 02, 2012
Michelle
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After reading "Premarital Sex in America" I see that Cherlin only showed us the tip of the iceburg as to the real WHY of Americans marrying too much. I feel he was too quick to lay all the blame of cohabitation, multiple partners, marriage, divorce and re-marriage on women. As if men have no choice but to move in with the marriage-resistant woman. The best chapter is the last one-SLOW DOWN-the only sane words of medicine for our sick patient.
I'm a never married woman. I More...
I'm a never married woman. I More...
Dec 19, 2009
Vilo
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This was a very interesting study on marriage in the U.S. historically and today. The author makes comparisons with European countries. Americans seem to hold two somewhat contradictory values very dear, often not realizing how they can conflict. One is the importance of marriage. The other is the importance of independence and self-fulfillment. As family and institutional supports for marriage have fallen away and people are more mobile, they tend to leave marriages if they feel personally
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Jul 16, 2009
John
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Researcher and sociologist Cherlin has discovered that Americans marry and divorce at higher rates than anywhere else. Likewide, no country promotes marriage like the U.S., nor is same-sex marriage as much of a political powderkeg as here. Contributing to marital instability is the fact that cohabitation rates in the U.S. are shorter than elsewhere.
Cherlin traces the history of marriage in America, showing the unique forces that have led to today's dilemma: a free-market approach to More...
Cherlin traces the history of marriage in America, showing the unique forces that have led to today's dilemma: a free-market approach to More...
Aug 27, 2009
Alice
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It's not a terribly exciting (as in whiz bang things happen) book, but it is interesting to see how Cherlin examines the contradictory cultural attitudes and the strange veneration (as compared to other Western countries) Americans have towards marriage. There's a lot of fascinating information that both contradicts and confirms a lot of perceptions about marriage and childbearing across different classes and races. It is tasty and sociological.
Nov 06, 2010
Interesting look at the history of marriage and where marriage may be going in the future. Dr. Cherlin's basic premise is that Americans marry more than people in European countries because of higher rates of religious beliefs, and Americans divorce more because of a greater focus on the importance of individual achievement and satisfaction.
Mar 10, 2010
WiscJennyAnn
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Worst title ever. That said, Cherlin-- highly respected. A book that was needed, as we were still referring to Becker and Cherlin's 1992 text. Wish there were more contextual comparisons. He has something new to say re: the "M-factor."
Nov 17, 2009
Becky
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Cherlin says there are far more marriages and divorces in the U.S. than in the rest of the developed world. He attributes this to two conflicting ideas in American thought: the importance/desirability of marriage, and its seeming opposite, individualism. He says Americans aren't even divided into two camps -- it's more that the same conflicting ideas coexist in each of our brains. It's too late at night for me to make much sense, so I'll just say that if you're interested in sociology and mar
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Feb 20, 2010
Amy
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Interesting observations on the evolution of marriage and the American attitude towards sit
Sep 20, 2009
Adrian
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I think it's really 3 1/2 stars. It was interesting up until the last chapter, after which reading I felt like the author had been exploiting me to make a buck- he was trying to write something that would be popular and so he saved all the stuff that would make me realize that there wasn't much to learn for the last chapter. Blah. But all the things he did talk about have really changed the way that I see marriage around me, so I guess it must have been a pretty engaging book. I have recomme
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Nov 20, 2011
Teresa
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A fascinating social history of marriage (and divorce) in the United State written by the head of the Sociology Department at Johns Hopkins University. Filled with counter-intuitive facts, the book takes the reader on a fascinating journey through the various historical "meanings" of marriage. In the end the book will make you question what exactly marriage means to you as an individual. I highly recommend.
Aug 08, 2009
Elyssa
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This book provides a good overview of the history of marriage, statistics about marriage and divorce, and the impact of family instability on children. Most interesting was the difference between marriage in the United States and other countries. I appreciated that the author based his writing on statistics and hard evidence and the information he provides is sometimes surprising and always enlightening.
Jun 01, 2011
M
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It was very interesting to read about how other countries view marriage differently. I'd wondered about how other countries passed civil partnership laws, and it's because their views about marriage are so different. We are the only country that pushes marriage. Other countries are mostly concerned with how parent partnerships affect children.
Jun 19, 2010
Jane
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This is the professional sociologist's take on marriage in this country.
Jan 10, 2011
Leah
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Enjoyable read with good insight - wasn't sure it was worth the full book as opposed to an article, but definitely was
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