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Americanon : an unexpected U.S. history in thirteen bestselling books / Jess McHugh.

By: Material type: TextTextPublisher: [New York] : Dutton, [2021]Description: x, 419 pages ; 24 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9781524746636
  • 1524746630
Other title:
  • Unexpected US history in thirteen bestselling books
  • American canon
Subject(s): Genre/Form:
Contents:
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.
Summary: "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"-- Provided by publisher.
Holdings
Item type Home library Collection Call number Materials specified Status Date due Barcode Item holds
Adult Book Adult Book Main Library NonFiction 973 M151 Available 33111010521140
Adult Book Adult Book Northport Library NonFiction 973 M151 Available 33111009845591
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A surprising history of thirteen of America's most popular reference titles - books that hundreds of millions of Americans have bought and dogeared over the centuries - Americanon explores the strange personalities and social upheaval that led production of the country's common language, customs, and culture. Far from innocuous, America's dictionaries, almanacs, and manuals have shaped its world in profound ways. Spanning 245-years, the books sold tens of millions of copies and set out specific archetypes for the ideal American, from the self-made entrepreneur to the humble farmer.

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.

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

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