
Chasing the American Dream
Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 17. April 2014
Book
Hardback
232 pages
978-0-19-537791-0 (ISBN)
Description
The American Dream lies at the heart and soul of the country. In Chasing the American Dream, Mark Robert Rank, Thomas A. Hirschl, and Kirk A. Foster provide a new and innovative look into the well being of the dream in today's society. They combine for the first time interviews with dozens of Americans, along with a longitudinal study covering 40 years of income dynamics for the national population. By weaving these approaches together, they create a vibrant tapestry upon which to tell the story of the American Dream.
Their findings reveal a number of surprises. For most Americans, the meaning of the American Dream lies not in wealth and riches, but rather in economic security, pursuing one's passions, and looking forward toward the future. Yet nearly 80 percent of the population will experience significant economic insecurity at some point between the ages of 25 and 60. In addition, the authors show that the risk of economic vulnerability has been increasing substantially over the past four decades.
Yet in spite of these trends, Americans remain upbeat about achieving the American Dream at some point during their lifetimes, although many will struggle to do so. The authors provide an innovative approach for thinking about and increasing the accessibility of the American Dream in the future.
Chasing the American Dream provides readers with a new understanding into the dynamics that shape our fortunes, and a deeper insight into the centrality and importance of the American Dream for the future of the country.
Their findings reveal a number of surprises. For most Americans, the meaning of the American Dream lies not in wealth and riches, but rather in economic security, pursuing one's passions, and looking forward toward the future. Yet nearly 80 percent of the population will experience significant economic insecurity at some point between the ages of 25 and 60. In addition, the authors show that the risk of economic vulnerability has been increasing substantially over the past four decades.
Yet in spite of these trends, Americans remain upbeat about achieving the American Dream at some point during their lifetimes, although many will struggle to do so. The authors provide an innovative approach for thinking about and increasing the accessibility of the American Dream in the future.
Chasing the American Dream provides readers with a new understanding into the dynamics that shape our fortunes, and a deeper insight into the centrality and importance of the American Dream for the future of the country.
Reviews / Votes
inspiring read. * Angelia Wilson, Times Higher Education * Chasing the American Dream is accessible to those who do not have a sociology background. It is also relatively free of academic jargon, easy to read, and provides a wide variety of evidence. Moreover, the text offers a wide range of interesting and useful policy suggestions ... Overall, this book is quite compelling and is useful for cultural studies scholars as a context for understanding how the rhetorical concept of "The American Dream" has stayed relatively static-and immensely powerful-amidst ever-changing social and economic conditions. * Patrick Kent Russell, Journal of American Culture * A necessary and captivating account of the status of the American Dream that will be of considerable interest to all those who aim to achieve their own definition of it and to all those with an interest in the United States of America. * Benjamin Harvey Sporle, U.S Studies Online *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 157 mm
Width: 236 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
431 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-537791-0 (9780195377910)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Mark Rank | Thomas Hirschl | Kirk Foster
Chasing the American Dream
Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes
Book
03/2016
Oxford University Press Inc
€30.60
Shipment within 15-20 days

Mark Robert Rank | Thomas A. Hirschl | Kirk A. Foster
Chasing the American Dream
Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes
E-Book
03/2014
1st Edition
OUP USA
€10.99
Available for download

Mark Robert Rank | Thomas A. Hirschl | Kirk A. Foster
Chasing the American Dream
Understanding What Shapes Our Fortunes
E-Book
02/2014
1st Edition
OUP USA
€10.99
Available for download
Persons
MRR: PhD, Herbert S. Hadley Professor of Social WelfareWashington University in St. Louis
TAH: PhD, Professor of Development Sociology, Director, Cornell Population and Development ProgramCornell University
KAF: PhD, Professor, College of Social Work; University of South Carolina
TAH: PhD, Professor of Development Sociology, Director, Cornell Population and Development ProgramCornell University
KAF: PhD, Professor, College of Social Work; University of South Carolina
Author
ProfessorProfessor, School of Social Work; George Warren Brown; St. Louis, MO
ProfessorProfessor, Department of Sociology; Cornell University
ProfessorProfessor, College of Social Work; University of South Carolina
Content
Chapter 1: Introduction ; Part I The Dreams ; Chapter 2: Economic Security ; Chapter 3: Freedom To Pursue ; Chapter 4: The Next Horizon ; Part II The Pathways ; Chapter 5: The Landscape of Opportunity ; Chapter 6: Upward Mobility ; Chapter 7: Cumulative Inequality ; Chapter 8: Twists of Fate ; Part III The Meanings ; Chapter 9: The Significance of the American Dream ; Chapter 10: Reshaping the Future ; Back Matter ; Appendix A: Sources of Data ; Appendix B: Additional Analyses ; Bibliography