The Roaring Twenties: Optimism and Overreach

This chapter explores the dynamic decade of the 1920s in America, emphasizing factors such as post-war optimism, rising consumerism, and technological advancements. It analyzes the excesses of the era, including aggressive lending practices that led to the stock market crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression. Through historical parallels, the chapter encourages reflection on contemporary economic behaviors and the importance of regulatory oversight.