The Culture of the Cold War

by Stephen J. Whitfield

"Without the Cold War, what's the point of being an American?" As if in answer to this poignant question from John Updike's Rabbit at Rest, Stephen Whitfield examines the impact of the Cold War--and its dramatic ending--on American culture in an updated version of his highly acclaimed study. In a new epilogue to this second edition, he extends his analysis from the McCarthyism of the 1950s, including its effects on the American and European intelligensia, to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and beyond. Whitfield treats his subject matter with the eye of a historian, reminding the reader that the Cold War is now a thing of the past. His treatment underscores the importance of the Cold War to our national identity and forces the reader to ask, Where do we go from here? The question is especially crucial for the Cold War historian, Whitfield argues. His new epilogue is partly a guide for new historians to tackle the complexities of Cold War studies.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Cultural, Politics, Read For School, School

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Sean Mccarrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first one hundred pages and the last forty were really great. The rest was superfluous.

[Piker7977 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whitfield does a good job of incorporating cultural themes, events, and ideals into the greater narrative of the Cold War. The strengths are his chapters on movies. Whitfield is often at odds with film scholars who interpret these films with an aesthetic perspective whereas his interpretation is based on political history. These revaluations of film from the 1950s and 60s are worth the price of admission.

A major flaw is the portrayal of presidents. Whitfield's analysis of Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson are very short and sporadic and at times come off as biased. A reader who has not read much history will walk away with a bizarre impression on these figures. Especially Johnson.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Domestic anti-communism manifests in culture during the 1950s

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

the title of this book is a bit misleading. The Cold War ended around 1989-90, but Whitfield takes us up to around 1965 in this book. It is an interesting look at the culture of the early war, including books, movies and music. Without footnotes, I question some of his assertions, but he does make some good points. His personal leanings are a little too evident, especially early in the book.

[Spencer Willardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was interesting. It wasn't quite what I imagined when I picked it up, focusing on the McCarthyism and anti-communism that marked the US response to the Cold War. From a cultural studies perspective it was fascinating.

[Tlazeni Citlalli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was expecting more of this book, kind of disappointing with a very simplistic overview of the red scare in the U.S. during the early Cold War. A very narrow minded proposition of an analysis.

[Sharon Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

I used this book in a research for a literary paper I was writing for my multi-Ethnic Literature class. I had a fifteen page paper on Analysis of Philip Roth's "Goodbye, Columbus" I need some historical background from the time period it took place. It was a great help. It is for anyone who needs to look back on the era, or who did not live through it. It is eye opening. It is a must read! For everyone who did not live through it and votes now!

[Tika · Rating 2 out of 5]

The credibility of this work is compromised from the lack of footnotes for some astounding points. I loved the first chapter. I snoozed through the rest with the exception of some interesting stuff here and there.

[Janiece · Rating 2 out of 5]

lame anecdotal attempt at trying to re-create a cultural milieu.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

meh

[AskHistorians]

One of the better histories of "cold war culture."

[Erik · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5 stars***

[Jessi Ballard · Rating 2 out of 5]

badly written, well researched