The Way Things Never Were: The Truth about the ""Good Old Days""

The catchy title of Finkelstein's (Friends Indeed) latest is a bit of a misnomer, for his examination of the good old days of the 1950s and '60s spends less time debunking myths of the past than extolling the superiority of present-day America. In his prologue, Finkelstein notes that current talk-show hosts and politicians ""tell us how much happier we would be if only we returned to the values, lifestyle, and practices of America's past."" But the social and cultural issues of primary concern to those espousing ""family values"" garner little attention here. The majority of the chapters open with a nostalgic ""myth"" (e.g., ""We Never Locked Our Doors""; ""We Respected Our Elders""), followed by a discussion of advancements in technology and government programs which make life in the 1990s better than it was in the past. Some of Finkelstein's points are unsurprising (polio vaccines and the widespread use of antibiotics have led to a far healthier population) while others seem more like claims than facts (e.g, he asserts there was more violence on TV in the past than there is today). Quotations from Finkelstein and others who were children during the 50's and 60's enliven a statistic-filled text, as do the book's many historical photographs and perky design (though lengthy photo captions printed in tiny type are a drawback). For those readers up to the challenge, Stephanie Coontz's book for adults, The Way We Never Were, gives a more provocative examination of this glorified era. Ages 10-14. (July)