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Apr 25, 1536
Institutes of the Christian Religion—John Calvin
Originally published in Latin, this work on Protestant theology was extremely influential on the Western world, particularly in new settlements in America. John Calvin's ideologies set up many of the belief systems which would be found in settlers who would go on to found many of the American colonies. -
Poor Richard’s Almanac-Benjamin Franklin
A yearly publication which helped inform colonists the mixture of seasonal weather forecasts, practical household tips, puzzles, facts, etc. -
Common Sense
A pamphlet written by Thomas Paine that brought revolutionary ideas to the common people and blamed Americas problems on King George the Third. -
Ivanhoe
A novel by Sir Walter Scott. This story was said to have first begun the the widespread interest of the time period of the Middle Ages, the time in which the book takes place. (It is also said to have certain elements of Romanticism.) The novel is historical fiction, and is about one of the few remaining nobel Saxon families of the Middle Ages. -
David Copperfield
A novel by Charles Dickens, this story follows the life of an English man named David Copperfield from his childhood to maturity. The story is said to be based off of many of Charles Dickens' own experinces, and is the closest thing to an autobiography that he had ever written. This was one of the many popular stories in that time period and would go on to become a well-known classic piece of literature. -
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn
The Scarlet Letter was an accurate representation of 17th century Puritan Boston and the hardships that came with living in that time period. It revealed the way in which religion was viewed in the 17th century and became a famous, influential novel. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
An anti-slavery book written by Harriet Beecher Stowe that made a stronger influence on the North to stop slavery and give blacks their rights. The book showed the reality and cruelity of slavery. -
Leaves of Grass
This publication by famous poet Walt Whitman contained one fo his more renouned works of "O Captain! My Captain!" -
Emily Dickinson
Although only 2 of Emily Dickinson's poems were published during her life, the majorit yof her work would be discovered and published after her death, Dickinson would later be considered one of America's best lyrical and most influential poets. -
Novels of Juvenile Fiction, by Horatio Alger
Horatio Alger wrote ficitonal stories for young adolescents in this time period. In his writing, he expressed that virtue and honor would be rewarded with wealth and sucess, and wrote stories that were overall a good influence on the youth of the time period. His novels were very popular. -
Mark Twain
Mark Twain became famous with "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calveras County" and "The Innocents Abroad." And in 1873 he wrote "The Guilded Age." He also wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." (1884). -
Library of Congress opens
The opening of the largest library in the United States marked a new availabilty of information for those who could not afford to go to schools or colleges. -
Progress and Poverty
Written by Henry George, this book explains why there is poverty even with the expandiing technology and "concentrated wealth" in places such as cities. -
Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Written by General Lewis Wallace, this bok was considered to be the "Uncle Tom's Cabin of the anti-Dawinists." It sold over 2 million copies in several different languages, and was a relgiously iconic piece of writing. -
Dime Novels
One of the most prominent and sucessful author of these dime novels was Harlan F. Halsey. These "dime novels" (being called so because of their inexpenisve price of a dime) were very popular among adolescents, most being about adventures in the west. Although popular with children, they were generally considered trivial and were frowned upon by adults. -
Marshes of Glynn
Written by Sidney Lanier, a poor southerner. This and many of his other poems were less well known, however his story was quite interesting. Suffering and dying from tuberculosis, Lanier wrote many of his works while suffering from fevers of 104 degrees F. (a temperature at which a person can experience hallucinations as well.) -
A Modern Instance
William Dean Howells wrote this controversal book that dealt with the taboo subject of divorce -
Looking Backwards
A very popualr book written by Edward Bellamy. The story was about a deep sleep into which the main character falls, and how he then wakes up in a perfect, socialistic enviornment. It expressed all of the changes that would have occured from that time period, and how the government would have developed "nationalized buisiness" to serve the people. This book helped shape and influence reform movements near the end of the century. -
Principals of Psychology
Principals of Psychology was written by William James. In this writing, James helped lay down the ground work for the study of mordern behavioral psychology. -
Women and Economics
Charlotte Perkins Gilman devoted herself to a vigorous regimen of physical exercice and philisophical meditation. She encouraged women to join a larger life and get envolved with the economy. -
Our Country: Its Possible Futureand Its Present Crisis
This piece of yellow journalism written by Josiah Strong was a missionary statement that led many Americans to Europe to place their beleifs and religion on them. It stimulated overseas expansion. -
The Influence of Sea Power upon History 1660-1783
This book written by Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan, argued that control of the sea was the key to world dominance. He helped stimulate the naval race among the great powers, and Americans began to demand a strong navy. -
How the Other Half Lives
Jacob A. Riis exposed the dirt, disease, vice and misery of the rat gnawed human rookeries that were the New York slums. It influenced Theodore Roosevelt to take action on the slums. -
Wealth Against Common Wealth
Henry Demarest Lloyd charged headlong into the Standard Oil Company demanding progressive changes. -
Lyrics of Lowly Life
Paul Laurence Dunbar embraced the the use of black dialect and forklore, previously shunned by black authors, to capture the spontaneity and richness of southern black culture. -
The Will to Believe
Written by William James, this work explained William's work on psychology involving religion. In this writing, James explains that faith is sensible, although not rational or nessicary. -
The Theory of the Leisure Class
Written by Eccentric Thorstein Veblen assailed the new rich by doing a savage attack on "predatory wealth" and "conspicuous consumption." -
The Awakening
Kate Chopin was a daring feminist author who wrote candidly about adultery, suicide, and womens ambitions. -
Sister Carrie
Written by Theodore Dreiser, it was a story about a poor working girl in Chicago and New York who becomes a mans mistress and elopes with another. It was a desregard for preailing moral standards and the book was withdrawn from circulation. -
Varieties of Religious Experience
Varieties of Religious Experience was a book written by William James in 1902. In this book, James explains his studies of certain human experiences in which conscious and subconscious energies could comfort and aid a person, and how this was connected to religion and/or belief in God. -
The Call of the Wild
Written by Jack London, this book glorified the features of nature and living off of the land. It was very popular and those who lived in the city eagerly embraced some of the ideals that were in the book, causing an outbreak of "cabin fever" and the desire to get more intune with nature. -
The Souls of Black Folk
Written by W. E. B. Du Bois, this work is about his opinion on emancipation., and how it had changed and effected the United States. Also, it was about Du Bois' opinion of the role and duty of the leaders of African American race at that time period. -
The Jungle
Written by Upton Sinclaire, this interesting expose shed light on the disgusting conditions of the meat packing industry. It made American aware of the filth that was being packed into the food htat they consumed daily, and influced TR to begin advocating the clean up of factories and conditions. -
Pragmatism
Another book written by William James, this work explained America's contribution to philosophical ideals. The concept that James presented was that truth was to be tested with realistic and practical methods, rather than with theories or rough concepts. -
The Promise of American Life
A book by Herbert Croly. Written in 1910, TR favored the views and preached the ideals that Coly presented in his book. Some of these included the continued consolidation of labor unions (and trusts) paralled by the growth of regulatory agencies in Washington. -
The Financier
Theodore Dreiser used his blunt prose to batter promoters and profiteers in this book, and again in The Titan in 1914. -
Other People's Money and How the Bankers Use It
Written by Lois D. Brandeis, the Attorney General under Wilson. An interesting expose-type book that explained where all the money that the United States seemed to be losing was going. Which, was to say, into the pockets of big banks... -
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Written by John Steinbeck, this novel was very popular in America. It was considered to be the "Uncle Tom's Cabin" of the Great Depression. It described the life of a family who were forced from their home in Oklahoma, due to the economic collaspe and the dust bowl. The family sets out to California to seek a better life. Many Americans were able to connect to the sentiment of the novel. -
The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care by Benjamin Spock
A very popular "self-help" sort of book, this book helped instruct parents on healthy and productive child care. Due to the new ways of travelling, families were mroe often seperated. The American people were looking for a new way to connect to the generation they were raising, and Dr. Spock came out with the useful insight and wisdom that was originally passed from generation to generation. -
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
This novel is the story about growing up during the Great Depression, dealing with racism in a prominently white southern town, and is told through the innocent and unscathed ‘Scout.’ A world famous story, To Kill A Mockingbird has been deconstructed by many, and is one of the most prominent novels to have come from this time period. -
Sexual Behavior in the Human Male, Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1948) by Dr. Alfred Kinsey
Although both of these books were written in the late forties, they examined many of the concepts which could be found in the time period of the 60’s. There were many radical changes concerning sexuality in America during the sixties; homosexuals were far more open and fought for their rights, younger people were far more promiscuous, etc. -
Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
This satirical novel was based on the experiences of the Second World War. It embraced the reeling sense of confusion which the war had spread, along with the turmoil. It would go on to become one of the most popular and vastly read novels to come from the 60’s. -
The Other America by Michael Harington
This book was a very influential book which exposed the financial issues and poverty of America. This work helped spur many of the ideas and concepts which would be found in establishments such as Medicare and Medicaid. It contained many of the driving points which were used in the “war against poverty,” and gave an inside look to the way in which the lower class was living as the middle class and upper class enjoyed their suburbs comfortable lives. -
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey.
This grim satire acted as a reflection of the way in which non-conformity as well as mental illnesses was viewed during this time period. Kesey also presents a the mentality of rebelling against the “man” and the conformity of all types of institutions. This novel captures the turmoil of rebellion that was present during the 60’s. -
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
The author defined this "mystique" as the worthlessness women feel in roles that require them to be financially, intellectually and emotionally dependent upon their husbands. Through her findings, Friedan hypothesized that women are victims of a false belief system that requires them to find identity and meaning in their lives through their husbands and children. It was a groundbreaking piece of work which greatly inspired the feminist movement of this time period. -
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
This extremely popular book depicted Capote’s experience with two murderers who were caught in Kansas. Capote became very involved in the case, interviewing the men and examining the way in which such a small and close knit community. (On a side note... Capote investigated the murders and interviewed the criminals with his good friend Harper Lee, who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird.) -
The Levittowners by Herbert Gans
Based on his own experience in moving out to a suburban community of Philadelphia, Gans wrote this book on the average suburban lifesytle. He explained the roles that each member of each household usually held. Men typically had blue collar desk jobs, women stayed at home, and the majoirty of families had about two children each. Conformity was found everywhere.
