Cultural Change in Modern World History

In this wide-ranging study, Peter Stearns combines a fine overview of cultural change with some perceptive case-studies. He offers a lucid, well-organized and accessible introduction to a complex subject. * Peter Burke, Emeritus Professor of Cultural History, University of Cambridge, UK * Peter Stearns is always worth reading. His new book is an exhilarating analysis of why cultures change -- sometimes with alarming speed -- and why other cultures persist with traditional ways of thinking and acting. Stearns and his two co-authors tackle case studies as different as left-handedness, gender politics, and regime revolution. The emphasis throughout is on causation and the impact of global contacts. It is a book that encourages us to think anew about our societies. * Joanna Bourke, Professor of History, Birkbeck, University of London, UK * At a time of sweeping cultural change, we need broad perspective on the phenomenon. This rich volume offers just that, bringing change in culture to the forefront of historical analysis to help us understand what it is and how it impacts lives-in both the past and the present. * Darrin M. McMahon, Mary Brinsmead Wheelock Professor of History, Dartmouth College, USA *

Peter N. Stearns is Provost Emeritus and Professor of History at George Mason University, USA. He is the author of numerous books on world history including Sexuality in World History (2nd edition, 2017), Globalization in World History (2nd edition, 2016) and Debating the Industrial Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2015).

1. Introduction: Why Culture Change? 2. Organizing Analysis 3. Culture Change on the Grand Scale 4. Protest, Revolution and Culture Change 6. Health and the Body: The Impact of Cultural Medicalization 7. Emotion, the Family, and Culture Change: A More Personal Scale 8. Culture Contacts and Culture Change 9. Prejudice and Acceptance: Culture Change and Social Hierarchies Conclusion: Where Can We Go From Here? Notes Index