American Fun

Here is an animated and wonderfully engaging work of cultural history that lays out Americas unruly past by describing the ways in which cutting loose has always been and still is an essential part of what it means to be an American.From the time the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock Americans have defied their stodgy rules and hierarchies with pranks dances stunts and wild parties shaping the national character in profound and lasting ways. In the nations earlier eras revelers flouted Puritans Patriots pranked Redcoats slaves lampooned masters and forty-niners bucked the saddles of an increasingly uptight middle class. In the twentieth century fun-loving Americans celebrated this heritage and pushed it even further: flappers barney-mugged in petting pantries Yippies showered the New York Stock Exchange with dollar bills and B-boys invented hip-hop in a war zone in the Bronx.This is the surprising and revelatory history that John Beckman recounts in American Fun. Tying together captivating stories of Americans pursuit of happinessand distinguishing between real risky fun and the bland amusements that paved the way for Hollywood Disneyland and XboxBeckman redefines American culture with a delightful and provocative thesis.(With black-and-white illustrations throughout.)