Seeking the American Dream

Robert C. Hauhart is Professor of Society and Social Justice at Saint Martin’s University, Washington, USA. He is the co-author (with Jon E. Grahe) of Designing and Teaching Undergraduate Capstone Courses (2014) and co-editor (with Jeff Birkenstein) of American Writers in Exile (2015). He has taught previously at Pacific Lutheran University, USA, the University of New Mexico, USA, and the University of Maine at Machias, USA.

“In terms of subject matter, Seeking the American Dream: A Sociological Inquiry could not be more timely. … As such, the book is, above all, a comprehensive literature review of sociological analyses of the American Dream. … Hauhart has written a valuable book. It should serve as an important reference guide for those eager to conduct research on the American Dream as well as those interested in teaching courses on it.” (Francesco Duina, Contemporary Sociology, Vol. 47 (5), 2018)

• Chapter 1: Antecedents.- Chapter 2: Early Sociological Investigations of the American Dream.- Chapter 3:  Sociological Studies of American Life in the 1920’s.- Chapter 4: The American Dream in the Great Depression.- Chapter 5: The American Way of Life in the Post-World War II Era.- Chapter 6: Post-war Affluence Meets the Great Society.- Chapter 7: The American Dream Critically Examined.- Chapter 8: The American Dream in a Diminished Economy.- Chapter 9: Dreams, Class and Opportunity at the Fin de Siecle and Beyond.- Chapter 10: Contemporary 21st Century Assessments of the American Dream.- Chapter 11: Down and Out or On Their Way: Street People, the Homeless, and College Students Envision the American Dream.- Conclusion.