This book traces the rise and fall of the American Dream, focusing on how democratic capitalism flourished in the mid-20th century to make the dream possible, only to be corrupted in the latter decades to serve the privileged few. Leonhardt examines the economic changes, labor laws, and government policies that contributed to this shift. He critiques both the right's championing of corporate greed and the left's abandonment of working-class issues, highlighting key figures and grassroots movements that shaped the American dream. The narrative is rich in innovation, grit, and hope, offering a diagnosis of America's socioeconomic malaise and suggesting ways to revive the dream through public investment, collective bargaining, and civic activism.
Published in 1929, this book is a comprehensive sociological study of Muncie, Indiana, which the authors referred to as 'Middletown' to represent an average American city. The study focuses on six main areas of life: getting a living, making a home, training the young, using leisure, engaging in religious activities, and engaging in community activities. The Lynds used a variety of research methods, including interviews, surveys, and analysis of existing documents, to describe the interwoven trends of behavior in this small urban center. The study highlights the significant cultural and economic changes in the city during the period and the division between the working class and the business class[1][4][5].
New York Times columnist and author David Leonhardt discusses his new book, “Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." In his conversation with Michael and Jeff, they talk about the impact of the high-school movement on the U.S. economy last century, what a similar higher ed movement might look like in this century, and why the value of the college is being questioned. The episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Ascendium Education Group.
Key Moments
(0:00) - Intro
(6:18) - The evolution of high school education and its impact on society
(11:27) - Public higher education expansion and quality in the US
(15:10) - Higher education's role in society and political polarization
(21:34) - Economic inequality and political polarization in the US
(27:10) - Education after high school, including college and non-college pathways
(35:28) - Higher education growth and innovation
Links We Shared
Ours Was the Shining Future
Future U Podcast - The Pulse of Higher Ed 
