This fabulous, eye-opening book challenges popular notions of what American families were like in the past. Almost every page has a shock -- whether it's that thousands of children as young as 11 worked in Pennsylvania mines and silk mills in 1900; or there may have been as many as 1 abortion for every 5 live births in the 1850s; that per capita consumption of alcohol was much higher in the 1820s than it is today; that Mother's Day originated to celebrate the organized activities of women OUTSIDE the home; that most studies suggest welfare does not break up families; or that even as late as 1940, 10 percent of American children did not live with either parent. Coontz, a professor of history at Evergreen College, writes: "Whenever people propose that we go back to the traditional family, I always suggest that they pick a ballpark date for the family they have in mind. Once pinned down, they are invariably unwilling to accept the package deal that comes with their chosen model." This excellent, well-researched book shows why.
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The review of this Book prepared by David Loftus
