American Behavioral History: An Introduction Fr... May 2026

Insightful research into how Americans have historically perceived "racial blackness" through smell to justify segregation.

Examining everything from early car-buying habits to modern shopping behaviors. American Behavioral History: An Introduction fr...

Understanding this history is more than just an academic exercise. As noted by reviewers at Project MUSE , it helps us "understand better why we live the way we live". By revealing that our "natural" behaviors are often social constructions, we can better evaluate our current cultural assumptions and even influence the future of how we behave as a society. As noted by reviewers at Project MUSE ,

Which do you think would be most surprising to someone living 100 years ago? American Behavioral History - NYU Press American Behavioral History - NYU Press For those

For those interested in diving deeper, you can find the seminal text by Peter Stearns at major retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble .

The NYU Press publication, American Behavioral History: An Introduction , explores several fascinating "cultural turns" in American life: