Jim (, Ethical Culture Fieldston School, NY) Cullen
"The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its history, or what it actually means. In this fascinating short history, Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream, or rather the several American Dreams that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims to the present. Cullen notes that the United States, unlike most other nations, defines itself not on the facts of blood, religion, language, geography, or shared history, but on a set of ideals expressed in the...
"The American Dream" is one of the most familiar and resonant phrases in our national lexicon, so familiar that we seldom pause to ask its origin, its...
You may not have a Ph.D. in history, but you already know -- or can readily believe -- that Columbus didn't exactly "discover" America. Or that the man who wrote the Declaration of Independence was a slaveholder. Or that our leaders may not be entirely committed to the effort to make sure that in fact no child is left behind.
But the truth of individual lives can be more compelling than they initially appear: surprising, informative, and maybe even inspiring. This book explores a few such lives, and the lessons they offer in ways that might actually mean...
Are You a Cynical Beginner?
You may not have a Ph.D. in history, but you already know -- or can readily believe -- that Columbus didn't exactly "di...
Moving beyond the biographical and journalistic approaches of most writing on Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. was the first major work of cultural criticism to situate Springsteen's work in the broader sweep of American history--the heir of Walt Whitman and Woody Guthrie, Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. Springsteen is an influential chronicler of our society, says Jim Cullen, a "good conservative" who preserves the traditional values of hard work, inclusive families, and genuine concern for the less fortunate. In the new edition to this landmark work, Cullen also discusses new...
Moving beyond the biographical and journalistic approaches of most writing on Bruce Springsteen, Born in the U.S.A. was the first major work of cultur...
There is an extraordinary range of material in this anthology, from Lincoln's Gettysburg address to a contemporary account of a visit from the Ku Klux Klan. The primary sources reproduced are both visual and written, and the secondary materials present a remarkable breadth and quality of relevant scholarship.
Contains an extensive selection of writings and illustrations on the American Civil War
Reflects society and culture as well as the politics and key battles of the Civil War
Reproduces and links primary and secondary sources to encourage...
There is an extraordinary range of material in this anthology, from Lincoln's Gettysburg address to a contemporary account of a visit from the Ku Klux...
There is an extraordinary range of material in this anthology, from Lincoln's Gettysburg address to a contemporary account of a visit from the Ku Klux Klan. The primary sources reproduced are both visual and written, and the secondary materials present a remarkable breadth and quality of relevant scholarship.
Contains an extensive selection of writings and illustrations on the American Civil War
Reflects society and culture as well as the politics and key battles of the Civil War
Reproduces and links primary and secondary sources to encourage...
There is an extraordinary range of material in this anthology, from Lincoln's Gettysburg address to a contemporary account of a visit from the Ku Klux...
"Cullen's strength comes from his understanding of how the different strands of American society intertwine in imaginative, unpredictable ways ... The shape and vitality of pop culture's next era will depend, at least in part, on commentators like Cullen." "Washington Post Book World"
"A thoroughly engaging look at American culture ... Cullen's articulate prose is spiced with wicked wit and he loves a good story ... Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of complex cultural forces." "Publishers Weekly"
"Reflecting both the strengths and weaknesses of an unusually dynamic...
"Cullen's strength comes from his understanding of how the different strands of American society intertwine in imaginative, unpredictable ways ... ...
In this clever portrait of the American presidency, Jim Cullen takes ten presidents down from their pedestals by examining key missteps in their careers--and how they transcended them. Examples include Abraham Lincoln smearing a preacher and rediscovering his religious vision in emancipating slaves; Lyndon Johnson's electoral fraud in his 1948 Senate race and his role in the signing of the Voting Rights Act; and Ronald Reagan's subversion of the Constitution in the Iran-Contra affair and affirmation of world peace in helping bring about the end of the Cold War. Targeting Republicans and...
In this clever portrait of the American presidency, Jim Cullen takes ten presidents down from their pedestals by examining key missteps in their ca...
How do perceptions of the past--not just of particular events, but of the trajectory of history as a whole--shape our experience of the world? Sensing the Past tackles this question with an unlikely source of historical insight--the work of six major Hollywood stars: Clint Eastwood, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and Jodie Foster. By focusing on the career choices made by these iconic actors, Cullen uncovers a discrete set of historical narratives, revealing the surprising ways historical forces shape our understanding of the world.
How do perceptions of the past--not just of particular events, but of the trajectory of history as a whole--shape our experience of the world? Sen...
