American Decades is a cross-disciplinary source for junior and high school students and teachers, public librarians and general researchers who need a single, consistent reference to document and analyze periods of contemporary American social history. The original 10-volume set covers 1900-1999; the additional Volume 11 covers 2000-2009. This is the latest installment of the Gale series documenting the history and social trends of this country during the 20th century. This volume covers the decade when America emerged as a world power, saw its population shift from the farm to the city, watched government challenge big business for the first time, and did little as African Americans continued to lose political and civil rights. Following the format established in previous volumes, the 13 chapters cover history, politics, law, economics, culture, and sports. Each chapter opens with a chronology, followed by a brief essay highlighting the decade's significant events. The main section offers essays on selected people and topics, and the chapter closes with a collection of biographies and a bibliography of period writings. Accenting the text are period photographs, drawings, and other art works. Coverage of each topic is balanced in terms of both the elite and common people and the high arts and everyday affairs. No new additional information appears in this work. Rather, the accessible tone, good index, nice arrangement, and wide coverage makes this a useful reference book or introduction for patrons unfamiliar with this fascinating period. Recommended for school, public, and undergraduate libraries.?Stephen L. Hupp, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, Pa Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. Used Book in Good Condition