Elsewhere USA: How We Got from the Company Man, Family Dinners, and the Affluent Society to the Home Office, BlackBerry Moms, and Economic Anxiety

by: Dalton Conley

Published by: Pantheon

Reviewed by Muhammed Hassanali

Elsewhere USA focuses on our outlook of working hard, and how the results of hard work define our social class. The old adage of working hard to secure one’s future is so well ingrained in the American psyche that we feel compelled to be reachable all the time – even while we are on vacation or enjoying time with our loved ones. This book points out that as a result, we are torn among our multiple roles in society (being a parent, a boss, a worker, etc.). The competing and often conflicting demands of these roles have an effect on our view of society and of ourselves.

Hard work is not new to the American psyche. The Puritan work ethic prescribes that we work hard and spend little. The call to industry and frugality meant that someday our children wouldn’t have to work as hard – the ethic resonated with the immigrant community coming to our shores, and building their futures on our lands. Over the past few decades, our perspective has shifted, resulting in the more-we-earn, the more-we-work syndrome. This means that more money does not afford us more time with our loved ones; it actually takes our time away from them.

One reason for this phenomenon is the growing disparity in income distribution. Hence, middle-class America sees itself pulling away from the poorer segments of society, and sees the rich drifting even farther beyond its sights. The feeling of being poorer than one’s colleagues results in more (albeit self-imposed) stress, longer hours at work, and the feeling that one has to run just to stand still in one’s career.

Wireless and mobile technology as well as services that once were beyond the economic realm (such as food preparation, laundry and child-care) have made it possible for us to spend more hours at work. These technologies and innovations have helped perpetuate our situation, but have not caused it – technology after all is neutral and does not compel our outlook.

Overall, this hardcover book is easy to read and presents a unique perspective on our views of American life in the twenty-first century.

Armchair Interviews says: Reminder that technology is a gift; how, how much and when we use it is our choice.