1948: The Crossroads Year

1948: The Crossroads Year by James F. Nagle is a fascinating exploration of how 1948 forever changed America-and why. The turning point in the struggle between Western democracy and Eastern absolutism as symbolized by the Soviet Union, 1948 changed the way the world worked and the way America thought. As the nation grappled with a post war environment, its people began to question their role in this new society and the path on which America now seemed headed. There was a huge migration of black people from the South. Easterners set their sights on the sunnier climes of California. Suddenly, apartment dwelling gave rise to a new phenomenon of suburbia. This was also the year that Israel was created and the first Arab-Israeli war was fought. From the Truman Doctrine to the popularization of television, Nagle investigates how one unique year has impacted our society right into our present day. Written in sparkling prose, Nagle brings a you-are-there perspective as he explores how and why Americans decided which bridges to build in their new lives-and which ones they should burn. A perfect book for history aficionados or baby boomers, 1948: The Crossroads Year is a portrait of the way we were-and how we became who we are.