Carol H. (Bookbakery) - reviewed on 6/17/2007 + 42 more book reviews

For the millions of men and women who donned uniforms in World War II, millions more stayed at home. Many who remained stateside enjoyed the easy money generated by government contracts. Casdorph contends this was the era of a "what-the-hell" attitude, which meant "let the good times roll." His narrative is a reflection of wartime America, with patriotic entertainers, the creative genius of John Steinbeck, and baseball, the national pastime. Simultaneously, there were race riots in Detroit and Harlem, labor stoppages, rationing, and tragic aviation accidents. Chronologically organized by years, and months, this is very well-written and often provocative. Preferable to Alan M. Winkler's Home Front USA (Harlan Davidson, 1986), Mark J. Harris's The Homefront (LJ 2/15/84), or Archie Satterfield's The Home Front (LJ 12/15/81), this is popular history at its best; recommended for most collections.

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