The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation

The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea that Shaped a Nation, originally published in 2003 by Oxford University Press, is a popular history book by American cultural historian Jim Cullen. As an overview and critical analysis of the American Dream, this book adds some meat to the bones of a traditionally ambiguous concept. Cullen maintains an optimistic outlook about the usefulness of the various American Dreams and about the promise of America, despite his criticisms.

This guide refers to the original 2003 edition.

Summary

In his introduction, Cullen briefly discusses the popularization of the term “American Dream” and its lasting influence as a concept in the US and abroad. Chapter 1 opens with a review of the Puritans, whose gumption to start a new life in the “New World” and belief in the possibility of change formed part of the bedrock of the American personality. Puritan theology—particularly the belief in predestination and the ability to sense God’s grace through the fruits of one’s labor—was crucial to the development of the famous Puritan work ethic, which is a core ingredient of the American Dream’s recipe: Hard work leads to success for any American who strives for it.