The Greening of America

Reich, Charles

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140029958 ISBN 13: 9780140029956

Publisher: Penguin, 1974

It is a paean to the counterculture of the 1960s and its values. The book was originally published by Random House. The book's argument rests on three separate types of consciousness. "Consciousness I" applies to the world-view of rural farmers and small businesspeople that arose and was dominant in 19th century America. "Consciousness II" represents a viewpoint of "an organizational society", featuring meritocracy and improvement through various large institutions; it dominated the New Deal, World War II and 1950s generations. "Consciousness III" represents the worldview of the 1960s counterculture, focusing on personal freedom, egalitarianism, and recreational drugs. The book mixes sociological analysis with panegyrics to rock music, cannabis, and blue jeans, arguing that these fashions embody a fundamental shift in world view.