This is the second volume in a three volume set, the first of which encompassed the working class; the third will cover the upper class. Improvements over the first volume include an index, making this compendium more useful as a reference, and a discussion of how the author has defined the middle class. Each section deals with a decade and comprises cartoons, advertisements, posters, and photographs of families, workers, and working conditions, as well as portions of magazine articles and quotations, interspersed with information about significant events of the decade and bits of social and economic information. In addition, Derks (whose credentials are not stated) has written fictional family profiles (76 in all)--composites intended to represent the financial and social situations of families from an array of ethnic groups and occupations. c. Book News Inc.

The introduction identifies this volume as the first in a multi-volume set; v.2 will cover the middle class, but after that, it's not clear what's planned. Volume 1 is a compendium focusing on the working class (which is nowhere defined). Each section deals with a decade and opens with a brief overview. Numerous reproductions of cartoons, advertisements, posters, and photographs of families, workers, and working conditions, as well as portions of magazine articles and quotations are interspersed with information about significant events of the decade and bits of social and economic information. Family profiles (74 in all) are fictional composites intended to represent the financial and social situations of families from an array of ethnic groups and occupations. The author's credentials are not identified, though he draws heavily on another of his works from the same publisher called The Value of a Dollar. Inexplicably, the volume lacks an index, making it more of a "browse" than a useful reference. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Each volume in the widely-successful Working Americans series focuses on a particular type of American and illustrates what life was like for that group from the 1800s to the present time. The volumes are arranged into decade-long chapters, each introducing to the reader three individuals or families. Individual profiles examine life at home, life at work, life in the community, family finances and budget, cost of living and amusements. To further the reader's understanding of the time period, profiles are supplemented with national current events, economic profiles, an historical snapshot, news profiles, local news articles and illustrations derived from popular printed materials. Profiles cover a wide range of ethnic groups and span the entire country, providing a thorough examination of all types of Americans in that particular group. From a wealth of government surveys, social worker histories, economic data, family diaries and letters, newspaper and magazine features, these unique volumes assemble a remarkably personal and realistic look at the lives of Americans. For easy reference, Volumes II through VIII contain an in-depth Subject Index to make sure that the reader can locate specific information quickly and easily. The Working Americans series has become an important reference for public libraries, academic libraries and high school libraries. These volumes will enrich the reader's understanding of American history, through the eyes of its people, and will be a welcome addition to all types of reference collections.

The third and final volume of the Working Americans 1880-1999 project, this volume presents a compendium of information profiling the work, homes, and affluent lifestyles that have defined the wealthy upper class. Each chapter covers one decade and begins with an overview of important events. Subsequent information includes economic data that puts individual lifestyles and decisions in perspective, news profiles, historical snapshots, and articles from local media. Derks (whose credentials are not stated) has written fictional family profiles (75 in all)--composites intended to represent the financial and social situations of families from an array of ethnic groups and occupations. The volume contains many bandw photographs as well as illustrations derived from popular printed materials of the day. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Each of the first three volumes in the Working Americans series focuses on a particular class of Americans, The Working Class, The Middle Class, and the Upper Class. The Fourth Volume focuses on American children, decade by decade from 1880 to 1999. The Working American series captures the lifestyles of each of the classes and their children from the last twelve decades, covers a vast array of occupations and ethnic backgrounds and travels the entire nation.

Each volume in the widely-successful Working Americans series focuses on a particular type of American and illustrates what life was like for that group from the 1800s to the present time. The volumes are arranged into decade-long chapters, each introduci

This Second Volume in the Working Americans, 1880-1999 series focuses on the social and economic lives of the Middle Class. This volume captures the struggles of the middle class from the last twelve decades, a vast array of ethnic backgrounds and broad coverage of the nation. Covering jobs in several different types of occupational groups, from an architect to a tug boat captain, a newspaper editor to a minister, this volume provides a unique portrait of the lifestyles of middle class families that is not available in any other resource.