University of Chicago Press Living on the Edge: An American Generation's Journey Through the Twentieth Century

History carves its imprint on human lives for generations after. When we think of the radical changes that transformed America during the twentieth century, our minds most often snap to the fifties and sixties: the Civil Rights Movement, changing gender roles, and new economic opportunities all point to a decisive turning point. But these were not the only changes that shaped our world, and in Living on the Edge, we learn that rapid social change and uncertainty also defined the lives of Americans born at the turn of the twentieth century. The changes they cultivated and witnessed affect our world as we understand it today. Drawing from the iconic longitudinal Berkeley Guidance Study, Living on the Edge reveals the hopes, struggles, and daily lives of the 1900 generation. Most surprising is how relevant and relatable the lives and experiences of this generation are today, despite the gap of a century. From the reorganization of marriage and family roles and relationships to strategies for adapting to a dramatically changing economy, the challenges faced by this earlier generation echo our own time. Living on the Edge offers an intimate glimpse into not just the history of our country, but the feelings, dreams, and fears of a generation remarkably kindred to the present day. Review A rewarding account that supports the adage that what's past is prologue.-- "Kirkus Reviews" " Living on the Edge is a must read for all interested in the promises and perils of social change and how individuals adapt to rapid successions of boom and bust, entering an uncharted world."--Ingrid Schoon, University College London " Living on the Edge presents a singularly creative example of the power of the life- course perspective to provide a unique and compelling account of how the lives of Americans in the 1900 generation were shaped by the rapidly changing world through World War I-II and the Great Depression. In what is certain to be regarded as a classic, the study exemplifies how master scientists can illuminate the ways in which individual and context shape lives within each moment and across the life span."--Richard M. Lerner, Tufts University "A pleasure to read, well-organized, beautifully written, and, most important, fascinating, this book teaches us about the rarely studied 1900 generation. This is the generation that made initial forays into major societal changes that emerged full-blown in the 1960s and 1970s, especially with respect to marriage and women's rights and lifestyles. This book makes a unique and excellent contribution to literature."--Linda K. George, Duke University "By looking to past generations, Living on the Edge offers remarkable insights into how disruptive social changes transform life course paths and possibilities in myriad unanticipated ways. A must read for all of us living on the edge in these tumultuous times."--Phyllis Moen, University of Minnesota "This is a remarkable culmination of a research project extending over a half-century, capturing nearly the entire lives of the Berkeley '1900' generation. Guided by bedrock principles of life course analysis, it shows how each phase of life must be understood in the context of the entire life course and its historical setting."--Jeylan T. Mortimer, University of Minnesota About the Author Richard A. SetterstenJr. is the Barbara E. Knudson Endowed Chair and professor of human development and family sciences and head of the School of Social and Behavioral Health Sciences at Oregon State University. He is author or coauthor of several books, including Not Quite Adults and On the Frontier of Adulthood, the latter published by the Press.Glen H. Elder Jr. is the Odum Distinguished Research Professor of Sociology at UNC Chapel Hill. He is the author or editor of many books including The Craft of Life Course Research and Children of the Great Depression, the latter published by the Press. Lisa D. Pearce is professor of sociology at UNC