Living on the Edge
Regular price
€28.50
History carves its imprint on human lives for generations after. When we think of the radical changes that transformed America during the twentieth century, our minds most often snap to the fifties and sixties: the Civil Rights Movement, changing gender roles, and new economic opportunities all point to a decisive turning point. But these were not the only changes that shaped our world, and in Living on the Edge, we learn that rapid social change and uncertainty also defined the lives of Americans born at the turn of the twentieth century. The changes they cultivated and witnessed affect our world as we understand it today. Drawing from the iconic longitudinal Berkeley Guidance Study, Living on the Edge reveals the hopes, struggles, and daily lives of the 1900 generation. Most surprising is how relevant and relatable the lives and experiences of this generation are today, despite the gap of a century. From the reorganization of marriage and family roles and relationships to strategies for adapting to a dramatically changing economy, the challenges faced by this earlier generation echo our own time. Living on the Edge offers an intimate glimpse into not just the history of our country, but the feelings, dreams, and fears of a generation remarkably kindred to the present day.
Richard A. SetterstenJr. is the Barbara E. Knudson Endowed Chair and professor of human development and family sciences and head of the School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences at Oregon State University. He is author or coauthor of several books, including Not Quite Adults and On the Frontier of Adulthood, the latter published by the Press.Glen H. Elder Jr. is the Odum Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology at UNC Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of many books including The Craft of Life Course Research and Children of the Great Depression, the latter published by the Press. Lisa D. Pearce is professor of sociology at UNC Chapel Hill. She is co-author of Religion in America and A Faith of Their Own.