Product Description

Born in the Country was the first -- and is still the only -- general history of rural America published. Ranging from pre-Columbian times to the enormous changes of the twentieth century, Born in the Country masterfully integrates agricultural, technological, and economic themes with new questions social historians have raised about the American experience -- including the different experiences of whites and blacks, men and women, natives and new immigrants.

In this second edition, David B. Danbom expands and deepens his coverage of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries, focusing on the changes in agriculture and rural life since 1945. He discusses the alarming decline of agriculture as a productive enterprise and the parallel disintegration of farm families into demographic insignificance. In a new and provocative afterword, Danbom reflects on whether a distinctive style of rural life exists any longer.

Combining mastery of existing scholarship with a fresh approach to new material, Born in the Country continues to define the field of American rural history.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68268 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review

"A balanced economic, social, political, and technological history of rural America... A splendid book, rich with detail and complex in argument... A superb introduction to American history." -- Agricultural History Review

"A delightful story tracing the social history of U.S. farmers. The book details the attitudes and social life of farm people -- how they looked at themselves and how the rest of society saw them." -- Forum

"An extremely well-written narrative that presents its information accurately... Danbom's book can well serve the classroom teacher and general reader." -- Allan G. Bogue, Agricultural History Review

"A highly readable and useful survey." -- Jeff Bremer, Journal of the West

About the Author

David B. Danbom is a professor of history at North Dakota State University, Fargo. His books include The Resisted Revolution: Urban America and the Industrialization of Agriculture, 1900--1930.

Customer Reviews

Any college-level holding strong in American or rural history must have this.
The second updated edition of BORN IN THE COUNTRY: A HISTORY OF RURAL AMERICA remains the only general history of rural America in print, covering changes from pre-Columbian to modern times and blending both agricultural, technological and economic themes with ethnic, cultural and social analysis. This second edition expands the coverage on the late 20th and early 21st centuries and traces changes in country living: any college-level holding strong in American or rural history must have this.

Excellent overview of a sparsely treated subject
Few books exist on the social history of rural america. Danbom's work is by far the best on the subject that I have seen, and should be read by anyone interested in close relationship between agriculture and rural society throughout much of our nation's history. Danbom covers the colonial period through the latest farm crisis of the '80s with consistent skill and erudition. He concentrates on the way economics, government, and social movements affected the people who were actually working the land. In this area his work offers a unique perspective in contrast to other agricultural histories that focus exclusively on economics and politics.

My main criticism is that Danbom is somewhat niggardly in his documentation. A work of this complexity needs footnotes, and there are only sparse notes at the end of the book and a brief bibliography. Much of Danbom's interesting evidence is not cited, which is a great nuisance if one is using the book for research purposes.

A general reader will not find this failing to be a problem, however; and it does not challenge this book's standing as the best introduction to the history of rural America.