What do you think?
Rate this book
The Times They Were a-Changin': 1964, the Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn
An award-winning historian on the transformative year in the sixties that continues to reverberate in our lives and politics—for readers of Heather Cox Richardson.If 1968 marked a turning point in a pivotal decade, 1964—or rather, the long 1964, from JFK’s assassination in November 1963 to mid-1965—was the time when the sixties truly arrived. It was then that the United States began a radical shift toward a much more inclusive definition of “American,” with a greater degree of equality and a government actively involved in social and economic improvement.It was a radical shift accompanied by a cultural revolution. The same month Bob Dylan released his iconic ballad “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” January 1964, President Lyndon Johnson announced his War on Poverty. Spurred by the civil rights movement and a generation pushing for change, the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Act were passed during this period. This was a time of competing definitions of freedom. Freedom from racism, freedom from poverty. White youth sought freedoms they associated with black culture, captured imperfectly in the phrase “sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll.” Along with freedom from racist oppression, black Americans sought the opportunities associated with the white middle “white freedom.” Women challenged rigid gender roles. And in response to these freedoms, the changing mores, and youth culture, the contrary impulse found political expression in such figures as Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, proponents of what was presented as freedom from government interference. Meanwhile, a nonevent in the Tonkin Gulf would accelerate the nation's plunge into the Vietnam tragedy.In narrating 1964’s moment of reckoning, when American identity began to be reimagined, McElvaine ties those past battles to their legacy today. Throughout, he captures the changing consciousness of the period through its vibrant music, film, literature, and personalities.
607 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2022
113 people are currently reading
151 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 25, 2025
It was 1964
…
It was the year of the Beatles
It was the year of the Stones
A year after JFK
From “The Late Great Johnny Ace” by Paul Simon (1981)
In his book The Times They Were A-Changin’ Robert McElvaine describes a period he calls the “Long 1964”. It is a period that began with the assassination of President Kennedy in November of 1963 and ends with the Americanization of the war in Vietnam in the summer of 1965. He describes 1964 as a watershed between the before and after of a changing American society. This is a detailed history of the social, political and cultural events during this period.
The book begins with an examination of the declining public opinion that government could be trusted to do what was right. The person most responsible for that decline was President Lyndon Johnson with his fateful decision to pursue a war in Vietnam and the lies he told to support that war. Johnson had sought to outdo the accomplishments of FDR when it came to poverty and justice. After a good start with the Civil Rights Bill and his Great Society programs he found himself stuck in a war in Southeast Asia.
One of the themes of this book is Freedom: the freedom to frequent an establishment and vote, the freedom of speech, even if it includes words that are obscene, and the freedom to show nudity in movies. During this period fundamental issues about freedom arose involving the freedom of individuals versus the community or society. The Mississippi Summer Project in 1964 became known as “Freedom Summer”.
The author uses Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali as an example of the youth rebellion in this period. After defeating Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship in February, 1964, he became a cultural hero. He was a young, intelligent, funny, good-looking young man with a rebellious nature that symbolized the change occurring in the young. Here was born the challenge youths would make to the established standards of proper and acceptable behavior. Whether it was the young college students integrating eating establishments in the south, the students at the University of California in Berkley exercising their right to Free Speech, or the students fighting for voting rights in Mississippi, it was an awakening of the political activity of the youth of America.
As might be discerned from the title of this book there are many references to the music of this time. Bob Dylan is quoted frequently, and the songs of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones reflected a younger message. Most interesting was the idea that songs were beginning to reflect a change in the attitudes of women. Instead of “Chapel of Love” by the Dixie Cups, or “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, women were listening to Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me’.
Any history of the United States during the 1960s must include a discussion of the Vietnam War. This book does cover many of the important events and decisions regarding Vietnam, but the book I am currently reading Choosing War by Fredrik Logevall deals with the subject in the same time period as this book covers: the Long 1964. I will wait to discuss that subject when I review that book.
In a commencement address at Howard University in 1964 by President Johnson he stated that we seek “not just equality as a right and a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.” (Page 341) President Johnson fought for a more inclusive country with greater equality and a government active in improving our social and economic life. But the year 1964 was also the year that the Republican party, the party of Abraham Lincoln, became the white man’s party. Over the next few decades the GOP would adopt the Southern Strategy as its election blueprint. The author describes it as a party that “had no tolerance for modern morality, for internationalism, for government social programs or government regulation of the market, for racial or religious diversity, or for an understanding of the world based on modern science.” (Page 226)
The success of the GOP in pursing that political philosophy is very apparent today. Was Kennedy’s election just “A useful fiction” that allows us to believe that we had triumphed over the restrictions of the past. His assassination was viewed as the “loss of the future.” (Page 36). And that summarizes the lost opportunities of this period.
October 3, 2022
The author of this book the events of 1964, the year he designates as the beginning of the sixties. He calls it the long year as he starts his discussion in November,1963 with the assassination of Kennedy and ends in 1965. He discusses the origins of the many reform movements that emerge during this time frame: civil rights, free speech, beginnings of women’s liberation and gay rights. As a framework for his book ,he talks about the emergence of rock and roll and how it evolved with the reforms.
A main thread running through the book was the quest for”freedom” and what it meant to the various segments of the population. A second theme was how the changes in society broke up the Democratic coalition and sowed the seeds of a backlash movement. This movement began with the Goldwater presidential campaign of 1964. This backlash included the George Wallace campaign, the rise of Ronald Reagan and the presidency of Trump.
This book contained events and music that I grew up with and she’d a new perspective on the period.
As the book concludes, the author discusses the two main things that ended up destroying the reforms and dividing society: race and Vietnam. This was an excellent book that adds much to the understanding of the period.
A main thread running through the book was the quest for”freedom” and what it meant to the various segments of the population. A second theme was how the changes in society broke up the Democratic coalition and sowed the seeds of a backlash movement. This movement began with the Goldwater presidential campaign of 1964. This backlash included the George Wallace campaign, the rise of Ronald Reagan and the presidency of Trump.
This book contained events and music that I grew up with and she’d a new perspective on the period.
As the book concludes, the author discusses the two main things that ended up destroying the reforms and dividing society: race and Vietnam. This was an excellent book that adds much to the understanding of the period.
May 31, 2022
McElvaine's premise is that in the "long" year of 1964 (going into 1965) major changes occurred in the US that were to affect the country into the 21st century. The country was still reeling from the assassination of JFK in November 1963. The Democrats with pluralities in both houses of Congress were determined to see his legacy and policies become law. They passed the Voters Rights Law, and money for the War on Poverty, Head Start, VISTA and other programs.
But the most important event that occurred during 1964 was the Freedom Summer in Mississippi to register African Americans to vote. The worst result of the Freedom Riders interference was the murder of the college students (2 Jewish, 1 Black) most likely by the KKK with the concurrence of the local Police. This made the volunteers even more determined to get people the ability to vote and establish the power of the Black Community.
Those who returned to college began to demand voting rights and the inclusion in neighborhood politics. The Free Speech movement at UCBerkley was the precursor to the Anti-War Demonstrations. The Anti-War Movement would lead to the Woman's Liberation and Gay Rights Movements.
One of the smaller but important changes were the growth of the Counter Culture Movement. The reaction to the British Invasion in music would lead to the growth of the California/Surfer music and later to the San Francisco Acid and Drug, and Heavy Rock. What was created during this time was our current society and the white Supremacy and Republican Conservatives.
It is a well written thesis and for those of us who lived through it, he's nailed it.
But the most important event that occurred during 1964 was the Freedom Summer in Mississippi to register African Americans to vote. The worst result of the Freedom Riders interference was the murder of the college students (2 Jewish, 1 Black) most likely by the KKK with the concurrence of the local Police. This made the volunteers even more determined to get people the ability to vote and establish the power of the Black Community.
Those who returned to college began to demand voting rights and the inclusion in neighborhood politics. The Free Speech movement at UCBerkley was the precursor to the Anti-War Demonstrations. The Anti-War Movement would lead to the Woman's Liberation and Gay Rights Movements.
One of the smaller but important changes were the growth of the Counter Culture Movement. The reaction to the British Invasion in music would lead to the growth of the California/Surfer music and later to the San Francisco Acid and Drug, and Heavy Rock. What was created during this time was our current society and the white Supremacy and Republican Conservatives.
It is a well written thesis and for those of us who lived through it, he's nailed it.
March 13, 2022
It starts with the fall of Camelot and concludes with the tragedy of the Vietnam War. "The Times They Were A-Changing" is a detailed history of some of the most turbulent days of the 1960s, which as a whole decade was quite pivotal for America. McElvaine provides an engaging history of a critical period in American history, one whose impact is still being felt today. If you are a history buff, and this is the period that interests you, then this is the book for you. I enjoyed it, up to a point. Reading about how difficult the time was for African Americans makes me angry, and somewhat disillusioned. We've come quite far in some ways, but in others we're on the hamster wheel just running but going nowhere. Also, I'm not too keen on how the author chops up the chapters. I guess the goal is to cover all the topics he wants...but at times it can be frustrating to hop from topic to topic in a given chapter. Yet still, it is a worthwhile read, and in my humble opinion, would serve as excellent required for a college course on the 1960s.
July 28, 2022
Robert S McElvaine, The Times They Were a-Changin' 1964, the Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn, Skyhorse Publishing, Arcade 2022.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
This is a timely book, providing as it does, an excellent background to current political and social behaviour and events in 2020s America. McElvaine has chosen a raft of cultural, social and political events to develop his theme, that the ‘long year’ of 1964 began changes that laid the foundation for change but have also raised such challenges to long accepted bigotry and racism that there has been an immense ‘push back’ culminating in the election of former President Donald Trump, and the continuing big lie about the 2020 election of President Joe Biden.
There are twenty-one chapters, the final of which is ‘“Unmatched in the history of freedom” The rest of the long 1964 and the everlasting impact of the year.’ A key word throughout the book, ‘freedom’ appears in this title, linking back to the introduction, ‘1964 in the Context of the history of “The Land of the Free”’. It is instructive that the photo with which the introduction begins is one of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party members on Atlantic City boardwalk, August 1964. Two chants and songs, follow – with freedom as a key word – an African American spiritual, and the Chant and Song at Greenwood Mississippi Freedom House. The question that McElvaine raises: what is the sort of freedom is American freedom? For whom? What are the implications for other professed American ideals and concerns such as individualism, community, responsibility, power, the economy, the distribution of wealth, and an ethnically diverse society?
Freedom and white and black access to freedom, and the sort of freedom each coveted and achieved (or did not achieve) makes an engaging, but heartbreaking discussion; the racism permeates every chapter, providing some explanation, ugly though it is for the debates, murders, court cases and behaviour still apparent in the 2000s. McElvaine provides some valuable contributions to understanding how ingrained racism is in American society and political behaviour.
Throughout, the sexism associated with movements toward racial and economic equality, is an uncomfortable partner of otherwise thoughtful and radical movements. Chapter 7, “You Don’t Own Me” Asserting Women’s Freedom Through Song and Other Means January-September 1964, is an excellent read. It raises questions, seeks answers, and demonstrates the intricacy of the movements designed to find racial equality.
Community action is paralleled by the Republican and Democratic Parties policy aims, and their responses to demands arising from greater acknowledgement of the right to racial equality, and Presidential action. The latter is a detailed analysis of the aftermath of the assassination of John Kennedy, and Lyndon Baines Johnson’s role as President. Associated with him is the delving into the reason for the escalation of the Vietnam War, and, more enlightened, his approach to racial equality. The work on both policy decisions and arguments is developed alongside an engrossing portrayal of a President whose masculinity or understanding of masculinity drove him.
At times the book is so detailed that one of my fears was the possibility that I would miss some gem. On the other hand, why not read and reread? The arguments, examples, far ranging discussion and valuable insights make it a sensible decision to do so. It is not worth missing anything from The Times They Were a-Changin' 1964, the Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn. I shall certainly return again and again.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review.
This is a timely book, providing as it does, an excellent background to current political and social behaviour and events in 2020s America. McElvaine has chosen a raft of cultural, social and political events to develop his theme, that the ‘long year’ of 1964 began changes that laid the foundation for change but have also raised such challenges to long accepted bigotry and racism that there has been an immense ‘push back’ culminating in the election of former President Donald Trump, and the continuing big lie about the 2020 election of President Joe Biden.
There are twenty-one chapters, the final of which is ‘“Unmatched in the history of freedom” The rest of the long 1964 and the everlasting impact of the year.’ A key word throughout the book, ‘freedom’ appears in this title, linking back to the introduction, ‘1964 in the Context of the history of “The Land of the Free”’. It is instructive that the photo with which the introduction begins is one of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party members on Atlantic City boardwalk, August 1964. Two chants and songs, follow – with freedom as a key word – an African American spiritual, and the Chant and Song at Greenwood Mississippi Freedom House. The question that McElvaine raises: what is the sort of freedom is American freedom? For whom? What are the implications for other professed American ideals and concerns such as individualism, community, responsibility, power, the economy, the distribution of wealth, and an ethnically diverse society?
Freedom and white and black access to freedom, and the sort of freedom each coveted and achieved (or did not achieve) makes an engaging, but heartbreaking discussion; the racism permeates every chapter, providing some explanation, ugly though it is for the debates, murders, court cases and behaviour still apparent in the 2000s. McElvaine provides some valuable contributions to understanding how ingrained racism is in American society and political behaviour.
Throughout, the sexism associated with movements toward racial and economic equality, is an uncomfortable partner of otherwise thoughtful and radical movements. Chapter 7, “You Don’t Own Me” Asserting Women’s Freedom Through Song and Other Means January-September 1964, is an excellent read. It raises questions, seeks answers, and demonstrates the intricacy of the movements designed to find racial equality.
Community action is paralleled by the Republican and Democratic Parties policy aims, and their responses to demands arising from greater acknowledgement of the right to racial equality, and Presidential action. The latter is a detailed analysis of the aftermath of the assassination of John Kennedy, and Lyndon Baines Johnson’s role as President. Associated with him is the delving into the reason for the escalation of the Vietnam War, and, more enlightened, his approach to racial equality. The work on both policy decisions and arguments is developed alongside an engrossing portrayal of a President whose masculinity or understanding of masculinity drove him.
At times the book is so detailed that one of my fears was the possibility that I would miss some gem. On the other hand, why not read and reread? The arguments, examples, far ranging discussion and valuable insights make it a sensible decision to do so. It is not worth missing anything from The Times They Were a-Changin' 1964, the Year the Sixties Arrived and the Battle Lines of Today Were Drawn. I shall certainly return again and again.
December 31, 2023
OK, I guess I'm really nitpicking when I say that this is more like 3.5 to 3.75 stars. McElvaine proposes that the year 1964 was the year that what we think of as the sixties really began, and that major events of the year have repercussions we are still feeling today. He is certainly not alone in this thinking. It is an ambitious book because, even though just concentrating on one year (or a long year, as he describes it, running from 1964 into 1965), he is trying to consider almost every aspect of the year - politics, civil rights, women's rights, student protests, early involvement in the Vietnam War, music, movies and more.
He spends a lot of time on Lyndon Johnson's sincere efforts to improve life for the country's Black population and those struggling financially. Where he falls down in my opinion is when discussing LBJ's insecurities that prevented him from looking at Vietnam more rationally. There is no doubt that Johnson suffered some insecurities. McElvaine ties it entirely to sexual insecurity, and that is a step too far for me. I don't think McElvaine makes the case for that.
I lived through 1964 and appreciated learning things that went over my 9-year-old head. Possibly the most interesting aspects of the book are the ways in which McElvaine ties movements and events of 1964 to current events and challenges. There are undoubtedly many direct links to today's movements and problems.
He spends a lot of time on Lyndon Johnson's sincere efforts to improve life for the country's Black population and those struggling financially. Where he falls down in my opinion is when discussing LBJ's insecurities that prevented him from looking at Vietnam more rationally. There is no doubt that Johnson suffered some insecurities. McElvaine ties it entirely to sexual insecurity, and that is a step too far for me. I don't think McElvaine makes the case for that.
I lived through 1964 and appreciated learning things that went over my 9-year-old head. Possibly the most interesting aspects of the book are the ways in which McElvaine ties movements and events of 1964 to current events and challenges. There are undoubtedly many direct links to today's movements and problems.
March 7, 2023
McElvaine starts out to provide a salient history of "long 1964" and how the major events -- racism and the Vietnam War-- shaped not only that time but produced the same salient features in today's America. His presentation and analysis are on the mark. The writing is clear and captures the mood(s) of the times and characters.
Each of the 21 chapters starts with an important photo image and several meaningful quotes which tie the chapter together. The chapers, which may be lengthy, are broken up with bolded subheadings and diamond breaks, which give the reader a pause getting through challenging material.
I greatly appreciated his ackowledgements, at the end of the book, where he discloses his own experience of the time.
Overall, I found this account informative, enlightening, and appropriately troubling.
The book includes a Preface, Introduction, 21 chapters, an Acknowledgements, a Premissions Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography, Illustration Credits, and an Index.
Highly recommended.
Each of the 21 chapters starts with an important photo image and several meaningful quotes which tie the chapter together. The chapers, which may be lengthy, are broken up with bolded subheadings and diamond breaks, which give the reader a pause getting through challenging material.
I greatly appreciated his ackowledgements, at the end of the book, where he discloses his own experience of the time.
Overall, I found this account informative, enlightening, and appropriately troubling.
The book includes a Preface, Introduction, 21 chapters, an Acknowledgements, a Premissions Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography, Illustration Credits, and an Index.
Highly recommended.
September 13, 2022
This is an outstanding book on the sixties and their ongoing effects on society, culture, and world relationships. It tells the story of the amazing confluence of vast changes during what the author calls the 'long year of 1964.' He describes the main players, their strengths and weaknesses, what they did, and how they fit into the larger puzzle of the era. Civil rights, voting rights, women's liberation, the role of music and culture, free-speech movements, political positioning, and the development of the Great Society, capped off by the horrible, stumbling, disaster that weakened everything, the war in Vietnam. He describes, explains, connects, analyzes, and connects all these issues in an engaging, easy-to-read way. It is well written, thorough, well-researched, and well worth reading.
September 14, 2022
Return to 1964
Although slightly skewed to make this primarily a campaign guide for the Democrat Party and a political diatribe against the Republican Party, McElvaine provides a wealth of carefully selected information. There are parts to cheer and parts to jeer. As a historian he is not above rewriting parts for which he purposefully ignores key facts in favor of promoting his own political viewpoint.
Although slightly skewed to make this primarily a campaign guide for the Democrat Party and a political diatribe against the Republican Party, McElvaine provides a wealth of carefully selected information. There are parts to cheer and parts to jeer. As a historian he is not above rewriting parts for which he purposefully ignores key facts in favor of promoting his own political viewpoint.
June 6, 2024
If you're wondering how America got so crazy, this book will help you learn. And if you "came of age" in the sixties, this book will fill in a lot of the blanks in your knowledge of American history. I read this book while on vacation and I would suggest you read it in larger "chunks" than I did as it will make more sense. There's a great deal of information in this work and at some point I may go back and read it again because it was quite the eye opener, especially about the Republican Party.
November 12, 2022
Such an excellent book. Really connects the dots from the 60s to the present day. And in such an entertaining fashion. All the popular culture references are woven in to this analysis and are such great examples and so relatable. Makes me understand what a wonderful professor McElvaine has been to so many during his career.
June 3, 2023
It has taken a long time to read this book but reading it in small snaches was perfect. I lived through and experienced not only 1964 but all of the events McElvaine recounts caught my attention then and through his reflections, speak to me now. I received the book for Christmas and have savored it for months. Thank you Robert McElvaine.
April 3, 2023
I like the way the author connects the key political events of the year that arguably brought in the ‘60’s with the political situation in the USA today. And some great pop culture history references from that year as well!
July 14, 2022
It makes you think
July 19, 2023
A very solid book that does a great job showing how the events of the “long 1964” (from the Kennedy assassination through mid-1965) shape events we still deal with now.
July 14, 2025
While well-written, this is the most biased book I think I have EVER read. When an author, begins his anti-Trump comments in the Preface, you know the book is very skewed.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews