Best Sellers in American Society
Course #: AMST 375
Description:
''Best sellers'' have shaped American views of science and nature; molded American business behavior; affected Americans' notions of the past and their expectations of the future; and shaped public perceptions of gender, class, race, and ethnicity. In this course, we will read popular works, both fiction and nonfiction, published over the past century and a half and discuss the ways in which these books have influenced our images of our society and ourselves. The best sellers we will examine are those which were extremely popular with large sections of the public and/or influential in changing public opinion on major social issues. Readings for the course include Uncle Tom's Cabin, Gone with the Wind, The Power of Positive Thinking, Silent Spring, The Feminine Mystique, and the novels of Stephen King.
Pre Requisites: Pre-req = a minimum of 30 credits or Permission of Instructor