Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

The Nineties in America, edited by Milton Berman. 3 vols. 1,168p. Pasadena, CA: Salem Press, 2009. 978-1-58765-500-5; 2008-49939. $364.

With this new set, Salem Press completes its survey of life and changes in post-war America. The last half of the twentieth century was a period of tremendous change worldwide, and the Nineties were no less eventful in the new directions it charted. Though it began with a recession, the decade ended with explosive growth of the economy. The promise of the computer age was achieved in the extension of the internet and the creation of the World Wide Web. NAFTA, deregulation and globalization prompted wide protests. The Unabomber, Waco, Timothy McVeigh and World Trade Center bombings raised the specter of new types of terrorism. Under the leadership of Bill Clinton, the federal budget was finally balanced, but investigations of his administration polarized the nation. New concerns were raised over abortion, downsizing, gay rights, global warming, genetic engineering, health care, international involvement, outsourcing and tobacco. The conduct of the Gulf War prompted examinations of defense spending and military reform. Such is the scope of The Nineties in America.

With the passage of 10 years providing perspective, Professor Milton Berman leads a team of scholars in this examination of the most significant events during the closing decade of the twentieth century. The scope includes both the United States and Canada, so overview articles describe demographic trends, elections, economic conditions, education and foreign policy issues in both countries. Likewise, looks at celebrities, the arts, sports, minorities, religion and science encompass developments in each nation. Otherwise, the 630 articles describe people, ideas, and problems that first rose to national prominence in this era. The culture wars, gun control and hate crimes are just a few of the issues considered. From grunge music, soccer moms and SUVs to DVDs, hackers and spam, the new features of American culture are inventoried and examined. So too are such tragedies of Columbine, the crash of TWA Flight 800 and the Oklahoma City bombings. Biographies range from Madeleine Albright, Colin Powell, Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Steven Jobs to Jim Carey, Garth Brooks, Terry McMillan and Michael Jordan. Other entries highlight popular movies, music groups, and comic strips. The impact of television is discussed in articles on programs like Ally McBeal, Beverly Hills 90210, Murphy Brown, NYPD Blue, The Simpsons, Seinfeld and The X-Files, all of which attracted both praise and controversy. Scandals, groundbreaking legislation and inventions are also featured. Supplemental materials include lists of awards in the arts, winners of major sporting events, and summaries of important court cases and laws. Also included is a glossary of new expressions from "alpha geek" to Y2K. A timeline, selective bibliography and multiple indexes assist the student with research. This comprehensive historical survey will serve audiences in school, public and academic libraries.