TY - BOOK AU - McHugh,Jess TI - Americanon: an unexpected U.S. history in thirteen bestselling books SN - 9781524746636 PY - 2021///] CY - [New York] PB - Dutton KW - National characteristics, American KW - Books and reading KW - United States KW - History KW - Social values KW - Miscellanea KW - Social life and customs KW - Trivia and miscellanea KW - lcgft N1 - Includes bibliographical references and index; The old farmer's almanac --; Webster's speller and dictionary (1783/1828) --; Benjamin Franklin's autobiography --; The McGuffey readers (1836) --; A handbook to American womanhood --; Etiquette in society, in business, in politics and at home --; How to win friends and influence people (1936) --; Betty Crocker's picture cook book (1950) --; Everything you always wanted to know about sex* (*but were afraid to ask) (1969) --; Surviving the eighties --; Epilogue N2 - "What does it take to be a good American? And who gets to decide? Journalist Jess McHugh examines thirteen seemingly innocuous, mega-bestselling reference books, guidebooks, and self-help books that have become blueprints for core American values and shaped our national story"-- ER -