The Lonely Crowd

“The Lonely Crowd . . . was published more than half a century ago. It remains not only the best-selling book by a professional sociologist in American history, but arguably one that has had the widest influence on the nation at large. The work . . . inevitably raises questions about the claims and limitations of academic sociology today.”—Orlando Patterson, New York Times

“One of the most important books of the twentieth century.”—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker

Praise for Previous Editions of The Lonely Crowd:
 
“Brilliant and original.”—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
 
“A stimulating and provocative book. . . . It is impossible to do justice in a review to the breadth and richness of the material.”—Margaret Mead
 
“Riesman has a spaciousness of outlook which brings great promise to American social theory. . . . His work is strewn with insights which make every page crackle as you read it.”—Max Lerner
 
“The Lonely Crowd remains at least as instructive now as it was in 1950, all the more so as the reality it perceived closes in on us. Reich’s disciples would find, if they could conceive of trusting a book that is all of 22 years old, that it speaks to them with at least as much ‘relevance’ as do their current gurus.”—Jonathan Yardley, New Republic
 
“A book for anyone who believes that the economic, political, and psychological problems of our time demand social discovery and invention and who is interested in joining with a vigorous and provocative mind in the discovery.”—Helen Lynd, New York Post
 
“One of the most penetrating and comprehensive views of the twentieth-century urban American you’re likely to find.”—Commonweal
 
“The intellectual freshness The Lonely Crowd provides will give the fortunate reader an impressive emotional experience. This is a book to haunt your senses.”—Joseph M. Goldsen, Public Opinion Quarterly
 
“David Reisman’s is the rare book which will be read with pleasure and profit even by those who reject its central conclusions. . . . A challenging explanation of the American character.”—Oscar Handlin, Saturday Review of Literature

“As accessible as it is acute, The Lonely Crowd is indispensable reading for anyone who wishes to understand American society. After half a century, this book has lost none of its capacity to make sense of how we live.”—Todd Gitlin