Looking for books about American life in the 1940s-1950s

[Maggie]

As the title suggests, I'm looking for books about American life in the 40s-50s (overlap into the 30s and 60s is OK too). I know of a few historical books that mainly address major changes in those time periods or the moods/emotions/experiences of certain groups during the time period, but I'm really looking for a book that would be more like an ethnography into the daily lives of an average American anytime in those decades. Topics I'd specifically be interested in might be brand and product usage, chores and household trends, schooling, child rearing and elderly care, "leisure" activities outside of the home, life before supermarkets, etc (just to name a few).

[SH]

"Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America" by Laura Shapiro might interest you... it's about how the food industry worked to market new, processed foods to Americans after the second World War. Really interesting stuff!

[Maggie]

That sounds just like the sort of thing I'm looking for, thank you!

[Rosa]

Something from the Oven: Reinventing Dinner in 1950s America for the link.
And this may sound funny because it's a cookbook, but Square Meals: America's Favorite Comfort Cookbook would be great. The chapters "Victory Dinner" and "The Cuisine of Suburbia" are just what you're looking for.

[Maggie]

Thanks Rosa, added it to my list !

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Since you mentioned child rearing, the most famous child rearing book of all time is probably Baby and Child Care, published in 1946.

[Janice]

Vintage memoirs are my favorite. I highly recommend any of Betty MacDonald's memoirs, starting with The Egg and I, as well as books by Emily Kimbrough. Also, Shirley Jackson's books about raising children, during the 40's and 50's, are two of the funniest books I've ever read. They are called Life Among the Savages and Raising Demons.

[C.]

If You Remember Metal Skates

Recollections: A Baby Boomer's Memories of the Fabulous Fifties

Remembering Woolworth's: A Nostalgic History of the World's Most Famous Five-and-Dime

Green Stamps to Hot Pants: Growing Up in the 50s and 60s

Penny Loafers & Bobby Pins: Tales and Tips from Growing Up in the '50s and '60s

Make Room for TV: Television and the Family Ideal in Postwar America

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton(60's)

[Rosa]

Twixt, Teens Yesterday and Today

[Rosa]

The One and Only
Taking Off: A Maryellen Classic 2
Welcome to Molly's World · 1944: Growing Up in World War Two America
Molly: An American Girl : 1944
The individual American Girl books used to have useful historical afterwords.

[Rosa]

Mad About the Fifties
Mad About the Sixties: The Best of the Decade

[Maggie]

Wow, thanks for the responses everyone, I'm checking out all of the recommendations now!

[Rosa]

The Green Glass Sea and White Sands, Red Menace

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Fair Exchange might work. It's about 2 classes of seniors in high school who set up a "student exchange" so that they can each see how people in other parts of the country live.