This book investigates the historical trajectory of the American middle class, questioning how a group once considered the bedrock of national democracy and prosperity has come to be perceived as an endangered demographic. Lawrence R. Samuel, a cultural historian, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the evolution of middle-class identity from the post-World War II era to the present day. By examining shifting economic conditions and cultural representations, the author argues that the middle class has undergone a significant transformation that reflects broader changes in the American social contract.

Scholars and reviewers recognize this work as a comprehensive cultural history that successfully bridges the gap between economic data and social experience. Readers frequently note the accessible prose style, which makes complex sociological shifts understandable for a general audience interested in the history of American social structures.