Living in the Eighties

by Gil Troy (editor), Vincent J. Cannato (Editor)

Some see the 1980s as a Golden Age, a "Morning in America" when Ronald Reagan revived America's economy, reoriented American politics, and restored Americans' faith in their country and in themselves. Others see the 1980s as a new "Gilded Age," an era that was selfish, superficial, glitzy, greedy, divisive, and destructive. This multifaceted exploration of the 1980s brings together a variety of voices from different political persuasions, generations, and vantage points. The volume features work by Reagan critics and Reagan fans (including one of President Reagan's closest aides, Ed Meese), by historians who think the 1980s were a disastrous time, those who think it was a glorious time, and those who see both the blessings and the curses of the decade. Their essays examine everything from multiculturalism, Southern conservatism, and Reaganomics, to music culture, religion, crime, AIDS, and the city. A complex, thoughtful account of a watershed in our recent history, this volume
will engage anyone interested in this pivotal decade.

Genres: History

212 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

Gil Troy is the author of "The Age of Clinton: America in the 1990s" to be published October 6 by Thomas Dunne Books of St. Martin's Press. An American presidential historian and a regular columnist for the Daily Beast, this will be his eleventh book. He is Professor of History at McGill University and will be in Washington DC this fall as a Visting Scholar at the Brookings Institution. Troy wrote The Age of Clinton on a tight deadline, speculating that Hillary Clinton just might run for President in 2016 and that Americans would be ready this fall to rethink what happened in the 1990s. He worked until 5 AM most nights, woke up at 7 (he is married with four children), jogged for an hour, then worked. He met the deadline and lost 30 pounds.

Reviews

[Beth Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like this book of essays was heavily tilted toward Reagan and politics vs. pop culture and sociology. I would have enjoyed less Reagan debate. I appreciated all the footnotes though.

[Michael Laflamme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remarkable!

These essays capture the very essence of the eighties as those of us who lived them can attest. Even the Valley Girls are here. It would have been nice to have a separate essay on Iran - Contra as a balance though, but certainly the new gilded age is detailed well enough. A good, rounded tour of a pivotal decade.

[Brad Hayes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good collection of work in the genre of cultural history.