The Mindset Lists of American History

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Snapshots of the U.S.'s last nine generations—from the creators of the Mindset List media sensation Just as high school graduates in 1957 couldn't imagine life without zippers, those of 2009 can't imagine having to enter phone booths and deposit coins in order to call someone from the street corner. Every August, the Mindset List highlights the cultural touchstones that have shaped the lives of that year's incoming college class. Now this fascinating book extends the Mindset List approach to dramatize what it was like to grow up for every American generation since 1880, showcasing the remarkable changes in what Americans have considered "normal" about the world around them. Whatever your own generational mindset, this book will give you an entertaining and important new tool for understanding the unique perspective and experience of Americans over more than a hundred and fifty years.From the A Peek at the Mindset ListsIn The Mindset Lists of American History Tom McBride and Ron Nief show what has been normal what has "always" or "never" been true for ten generations of American high school graduates, starting with the class of 1898, born in 1880, and ending, speculatively, with the class of 2026, born in 2008. Here are some examples, with special attention to technology.For the high school class of 1898, born in 1880The best way to buy something cheaply from afar has always been the Sears catalog.Cash has always been registered on a new machine with push keys.Members of their class include Tom Mix and Christy Mathewson.Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace have always been dead.For the class of 1918, born in 1900Punch cards have always been used to control textile looms and fairground organs.Voting machines have always been used in Federal elections.Members of their class include Ernie Pyle and Aaron Copeland.Casey Jones and Sir Arthur Sullivan have always been dead.For the class of 1931, born in 1913They've always been able to receive books and other goods through the mail via parcel post.Erector sets have always inspired budding engineers.Members of their class include Jimmy Hoffa and Gerald Ford.Rudolf Diesel and George Westinghouse have always been dead.For the class of 1944, born in 1926Cars have always had radios.Phonographs have always been able to change the records for you.Members of their class include Leslie Nielsen and Queen Elizabeth II.Mary Cassatt and Annie Oakley have always been dead.For the class of 1957, born in 1939"Stockings" and "nylons' have always been synonymous.Cars have always had air conditioning.Members of their class include Michael Moorcock and Lily Tomlin.Sigmund Freud and Anthony Fokker have always been dead.For the class of 1970, born in 1952Showerheads have always been adjustable.Bowling alleys have never needed pin boys.Members of their class include Maureen Dowd and Vladimir PutinCurly Howard and Eva Peron have always been dead.For the class of 1983, born in 1965The Commodore 64 has always been the bestselling personal computer.A mouse has always been a rodent.Members of their class include Brooke Shields and Jesse Jackson, Jr.Malcolm X and Edward R. Murrow have always been dead.For the class of 1996, born in 1978Babies have always been able to be conceived in test tubes.Video games have always had high scores and multiple lives.Members of their class include Dirk Nowitzki and Marissa MillerGolda Meir and Harvey Milk have always been dead.For the class of 2009, born in 1991An album has always been a shiny silver disk.The Wide World has always been Webbed.Members of their class include Emma Roberts and The Chicago Bulls (World Champion Version)Martha Graham and Miles Davis have always been dead.For the class of 2026, born in 2008They've never held an album.. music or photo."Kindle" has always been a noun.Wal-Mart has always been America's second-largest retailer.Members of their class include Nahla Ariela Aubry ( Gabriel Aubry and Halle Berry) and Sunday Rose Kidman Urban ( Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman).Tim Russert and Odetta have always been dead.