Book summary

An exhaustive history of modern culture, examining 20th-century developments in art, architecture, politics, religion, film, philosophy,science, and education. Cantor maintains that America has been the premier exporter of ideas and movements during this period, and that, in every contemporary field, American models are inevitably held up as models--either of praise or condemnation.

Media reviews

"Mr. Cantor...compresses into a single volume just about every notable trend, event, discipline, movement, institution and art form that has flourished or languished in this century, drawing connections and dropping opinions all the while. The amount of detail is astonishing, but the most impressive and valuable aspect of the work is Mr. Cantor's ability to weave all this information into a consistent whole. No one, with the possible exception of the author, will agree with every conclusion of 'The American Century', but no one will close the book unenlightened."