Is the consciousness of Americans in the midst of dramatic transformation? Or do people think and feel much the same as they have always thought and felt? Do most people enjoy their work, or hate it? Is the American family being replaced by new institutional forms, or is it much the same as it was in the 1950's? Have material values been replaced by a "postmaterial consciousness" in a postindustrial society? Are Americans becoming more conservative, less conservative, or staying about the same? State of the Masses asks the important questions.

Originally published in 1986, this prescient study evaluate the views of social critics, neo-conservatives, neo-Marxists, post-industrialists, and the theorists of the little man, who puport to describe the nature, social conditions, outlooks, and motivations of the American populace. The claims of one group are often diametrically opposed to those of another. The authors make the case for which claims can be considered true and which false. Hamilton and Wright analyze the contradictory claims and compares their implications with the best social science research and data available at that time. They also explore the implications for theories in light of the conflicting portrait the evidence provides. The authors conclude with a new perspective for understanding continuities and changes in the United States. This is a prescient view of American society during turmoil, and a model for how social science research can be used predictively.

"The manuscript is wonderfully devastating."--G. William Domhoff, University of California, Santa Cruz "I think this is a masterful and timely piece of work � the book's message is so powerful, so wide sweeping that it cannot be ignored."--William Form, The Ohio State University

Richard F. Hamilton is emeritus professor of sociology and political science at The Ohio State University. He has written eleven books and seventy articles, mostly dealing with elite and mass politics and their interconnections,including President McKinley, War and Empire (two volume work) published by Transaction.

James D. Wright is a professor in the department of sociology at the University of Central Florida. He has published seventeen books including Armed and Considered Dangerous and Under the Gun as well as many journal articles. His current research interests include violence, urban poverty and inequality, health and the homeless population, and the "divorce reform" movement.

Review

-Most books on social indicators are oriented to psychological theories and have not been absorbed quickly into the sociological mainstream. Hamilton and Wright correct this balance, and their book deserves the careful attention of sociologists.- --D. Garth Taylor, Social Forces -One does not have to be devoted to the Frankfurt school for the -scientism- in this work to fairly take your breath away. . . . This is documentation that should substantially enrich political analysis.- --Michael Stevenson, Canadian Journal of Political Science -This book constitutes the social science equivalent of Consumer Reports it subjects a diverse range of potentially hazardous social theories to independent empirical tests and evaluates the results against advertised claims.- --James R. Beniger, The Public Opinion Quarterly -The State of the Masses, by Richard Hamilton and James Wright, is one of the most entertaining works I've read. Even the footnotes provide gripping material, and there are some excellent touches of humour throughout. But the book has a much more serious purpose. It delivers a systematic and at times devastating critique. . . . Anything with lingering doubts on this score would do well to read this book for themselves.- --Brian Graetz, Australia and New Zealand Journal of Sociology -The manuscript is wonderfully devastating.- --G. William Domhoff, University of California -[The authors] did a terrific job pulling the materials together and lambasting the prophets of doom and gloom. . . . [C]ongratulations are in order for a really interesting and, I believe, significant manuscript.- --Curt Tausky, University of Massachusetts, Amherst -[The authors] are to be congratulated for the service they have performed in assembling this vast amount of interesting and informative data and in the extensive and relevant analysis of these data.- --Paul C. Glick, U.S. Bureau of the Census -I think it is great. The manuscript has a sprightly style, just the right touch of irony, and all the data that is needed to prove the point. . . . [The material] on false consciousness and bar-fly methodology will be picked up and widely quoted.- --William Form, University of Illinois, Urbana -The manuscript is wonderfully devastating.---G. William Domhoff, University of California, Santa Cruz -I think this is a masterful and timely piece of work A the book's message is so powerful, so wide sweeping that it cannot be ignored.- --William Form, The Ohio State University "Most books on social indicators are oriented to psychological theories and have not been absorbed quickly into the sociological mainstream. Hamilton and Wright correct this balance, and their book deserves the careful attention of sociologists." --D. Garth Taylor, Social Forces "One does not have to be devoted to the Frankfurt school for the "scientism" in this work to fairly take your breath away. . . . This is documentation that should substantially enrich political analysis." --Michael Stevenson, Canadian Journal of Political Science "This book constitutes the social science equivalent of Consumer Reports it subjects a diverse range of potentially hazardous social theories to independent empirical tests and evaluates the results against advertised claims." --James R. Beniger, The Public Opinion Quarterly "The State of the Masses, by Richard Hamilton and James Wright, is one of the most entertaining works I've read. Even the footnotes provide gripping material, and there are some excellent touches of humour throughout. But the book has a much more serious purpose. It delivers a systematic and at times devastating critique. . . . Anything with lingering doubts on this score would do well to read this book for themselves." --Brian Graetz, Australia and New Zealand Journal of Sociology "The manuscript is wonderfully devastating." --G. William Domhoff, University of California "[The authors] did a terrific job pulling the materials together and lambasting the prophets of doom and gloom. . . . [C]ongratulations are in order for a really interesting and, I believe, significant manuscript." --Curt Tausky, University of Massachusetts, Amherst "[The authors] are to be congratulated for the service they have performed in assembling this vast amount of interesting and informative data and in the extensive and relevant analysis of these data." --Paul C. Glick, U.S. Bureau of the Census "I think it is great. The manuscript has a sprightly style, just the right touch of irony, and all the data that is needed to prove the point. . . . [The material] on false consciousness and bar-fly methodology will be picked up and widely quoted." --William Form, University of Illinois, Urbana "The manuscript is wonderfully devastating."--G. William Domhoff, University of California, Santa Cruz "I think this is a masterful and timely piece of work A the book's message is so powerful, so wide sweeping that it cannot be ignored." --William Form, The Ohio State University "Most books on social indicators are oriented to psychological theories and have not been absorbed quickly into the sociological mainstream. Hamilton and Wright correct this balance, and their book deserves the careful attention of sociologists." --D. Garth Taylor, Social Forces "One does not have to be devoted to the Frankfurt school for the "scientism" in this work to fairly take your breath away. . . . This is documentation that should substantially enrich political analysis." --Michael Stevenson, Canadian Journal of Political Science "This book constitutes the social science equivalent of Consumer Reports it subjects a diverse range of potentially hazardous social theories to independent empirical tests and evaluates the results against advertised claims." --James R. Beniger, The Public Opinion Quarterly "The State of the Masses, by Richard Hamilton and James Wright, is one of the most entertaining works I've read. Even the footnotes provide gripping material, and there are some excellent touches of humour throughout. But the book has a much more serious purpose. It delivers a systematic and at times devastating critique. . . . Anything with lingering doubts on this score would do well to read this book for themselves." --Brian Graetz, Australia and New Zealand Journal of Sociology "The manuscript is wonderfully devastating." --G. William Domhoff, University of California "[The authors] did a terrific job pulling the materials together and lambasting the prophets of doom and gloom. . . . [C]ongratulations are in order for a really interesting and, I believe, significant manuscript." --Curt Tausky, University of Massachusetts, Amherst "[The authors] are to be congratulated for the service they have performed in assembling this vast amount of interesting and informative data and in the extensive and relevant analysis of these data." --Paul C. Glick, U.S. Bureau of the Census "I think it is great. The manuscript has a sprightly style, just the right touch of irony, and all the data that is needed to prove the point. . . . [The material] on false consciousness and bar-fly methodology will be picked up and widely quoted." --William Form, University of Illinois, Urbana "The manuscript is wonderfully devastating."--G. William Domhoff, University of California, Santa Cruz "I think this is a masterful and timely piece of work A the book's message is so powerful, so wide sweeping that it cannot be ignored." --William Form, The Ohio State University "Most books on social indicators are oriented to psychological theories and have not been absorbed quickly into the sociological mainstream. Hamilton and Wright correct this balance, and their book deserves the careful attention of sociologists." --D. Garth Taylor, Social Forces "One does not have to be devoted to the Frankfurt school for the "scientism" in this work to fairly take your breath away. . . . This is documentation that should substantially enrich political analysis." --Michael Stevenson, Canadian Journal of Political Science "This book constitutes the social science equivalent of Consumer Reports it subjects a diverse range of potentially hazardous social theories to independent empirical tests and evaluates the results against advertised claims." --James R. Beniger, The Public Opinion Quarterly

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Nauka Japan LLC
1-34, Chiyoda-ku, TOKYO, 1010051, Japan

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks web sites. If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date. If you've changed your mind about a book that you've ordered, please use the Ask bookseller a question link to contact us and we'll respond within 2 business days.

Right of cancellation

If you are a consumer you can cancel the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.

INFORMATION REGARDING THE RIGHT OF CANCELLATION

Statutory Right to cancel

You have the right to cancel this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.

The cancellation period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the the last good or the last lot or piece.

To exercise the right to cancel, you must inform us, Nauka Japan LLC, 1-34 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, 101-0051, Tokyo, ., Japan, +81-3-3219-0155, of your decision to cancel this contract by a clear statement (e.g. a letter sent by post, fax or e-mail). You may use the attached model cancellation form, but it is not obligatory. You can also electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". If you use this option, we will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a cancellation on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.

To meet the cancellation deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right to cancel before the cancellation period has expired.

Effects of cancellation

If you cancel this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).

We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.

We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to cancel with contract.

We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.

We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.

You shall send back the goods or hand them over to us or Nauka Japan LLC, 1-34 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, 101-0051, Tokyo, ., Japan, +81-3-3219-0155, without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your cancellation from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.

Exceptions to the right of cancellation

The right of cancellation does not apply to:

the delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not cancel it once delivery had started.

Model withdrawal form

(complete and return this form only if you wish to withdraw from the contract)

To: (Nauka Japan LLC, 1-34 Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, 101-0051, Tokyo, ., Japan, +81-3-3219-0155)

I/We (*) hereby give notice that I/We (*) withdraw from my/our (*) contract of sale of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following goods (*)/for the provision of the following service (*),

Ordered on (*)/received on (*)

Name of consumer(s)

Address of consumer(s)

Signature of consumer(s) (only if this form is notified on paper)

Date

* Delete as appropriate.

Shipping Terms

Shipping rates from Japan to U.S.A.

Shipping rates from Japan to U.S.A.
Order quantity	20 to 45 business days	8 to 14 business days
First item	� 11.16	� 18.60

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.