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Overview
The primary aim of The Americans is to study the people and America's inner tendencies. It offers a "philosophy of Americanism," the ideology of a people writ whole. Munsterberg's sense of the "spirit" of a people, rather than facts about the people, is revealed in his four cardinal chapters: Self-Direction, Self-Realization, Self-Perfection, and Self-Assertion. While he covers the economic premises of the free market and the politics of party affairs, he considers these the least important. Instead it is the lasting forces and tendencies of American life, rather than problems of the day, that occupy the author. This focus was shared by German readers, for whom the book was conceived, and for those in the United States who read the book in English.
The dynamic of strong basic tendencies of democratic forces and lesser, but significant, aristocratic tendencies underwrites the strains and tensions in American society. It also defines the special nature of a book, written more than one hundred years ago, that retains its lively sense of purpose and deep insight into American life. One could well say that this book is required reading in this day and age for Americans and Europeans alike. This is a neglected masterpiece.
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781412806527 |
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Publisher: | Transaction Publishers |
Publication date: | 10/30/2007 |
Pages: | 664 |
Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d) |
Age Range: | 16 Years |
About the Author
Hugo Münsterberg (1863-1916) was a professor of psychology at Harvard University. He was widely known for his work in the fields of the applications of psychology to law, business, industry, medicine, teaching, and sociology. He was also a leader in the field of behaviorism for his work, which defines attention in terms of the openness of the nerve paths to the muscles of adjustment. In 1898 he was elected president of the American Psychological Association. Among his works are Psychology and Industrial Efficiency, Psychotherapy, On the Witness Stand, Psychology and Crime, and The Eternal Values.
John J. Bukowczyk is professor of history at Wayne State University. He is author or editor of four books and author of numerous journal articles. He is also editor of the Journal of American Ethnic History.