Americans Thinking America

In this dynamic book, Charles Lemert elaborates a vigorous, distinctive, and creative American tradition in social thought.

American social theory has tended to be overshadowed by European social thought. Yet, looking deeper, Americans have always made important contributions to social theory. Drawing upon the work of a dazzling array of both seminal and unjustly overlooked philosophers, sociologists, litterateurs, and political activists, Lemert constructs a coherent yet variegated intellectual framework for understanding American social theory and culture from the colonial era to the present. In doing so, Lemert analyses American intellectual attitudes on race, gender, popular culture, political thought, capitalism, and social movements, while also exploring schools of thought from transcendentalism and pragmatism to interactionism and intersectionality.

In his inimitable style, Charles Lemert, a master of "finding theory where you?d least expect it," offers a masterful rendering of the American tradition in social theory. In doing so, Lemert shines new light on social theory and American history. Both authoritative and accessible, this indispensable work will be essential reading for students, scholars, and general readers with interests in social theory and American social history.

"America is usually viewed as the poor cousin of European intellectual life when it comes to producing canonical social theory. As well-known authority Charles Lemert shows in this sweeping reinterpretation, Americans of all kinds have been intrepid contributors to attempts to conceive of how social order is imagined and made, and under what conditions the agents that society produces can transform it in turn."

Samuel Moyn, Chancellor Kent Professor of Law and History, Yale University, USA

"The story of American social theory is often overshadowed by US appropriations of European texts. But it is a vigorous tradition in its own right, helping to shape the country as well as advance social science. Charles Lemert tells this story beautifully, with warmth and engagement as well as insight and breadth of perspective. An important contribution and a pleasure to read."

Craig Calhoun, University Professor of Social Sciences, Arizona State University, USA

"This is no typical social theory book. Charles Lemert, one of the most original theorists of the last half century, creates a compelling new narrative of ?America? that weaves together history, politics, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. Spanning the ideas and contexts of everyone from Franklin to Jefferson, Lincoln to Thoreau, Tubman to DuBois, to more contemporary scholars of globalization, environment, culture, and urban life, Lemert illuminates and explains the connections, fractures, and changes over more than two centuries of Americans thinking America".

Andrew Deener, Professor of Sociology, University of Connecticut, USA

"This book is beyond words in its brilliance. This curated theoretical magnum opus delves into the rich tapestry of American social theory, offering a detailed homage to the American theoretical tradition and its intellectuals. It highlights the evolution of a nation by analyzing historical and cultural milestones through the insights of thinkers such as Emerson, Thoreau, Du Bois, and Dewey. This book addresses pragmatism, identity, social movements, and marginality, crafting a vivid narrative of the American experiment. It traces the journey from premodern to modern to postmodern frameworks, providing a rich, sophisticated overview of the history and theories that shape the United States. Moreover, it underscores America's unique contributions to global intellectual discourse in a landscape dominated by European philosophical traditions. Americans Thinking America is beyond measure, like its author, who, given his life?s contributions to the discipline, can easily be revered as the Godfather of social theory."

Waverly Duck, North Hall Chair Endowed Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA

"Charles Lemert?s Americans Thinking America is the master work of one of the greatest American social theorists of the twenty-first century. The book offers a comprehensive guide to theory in what would become the United States from the early 1700s through to the present. This is essential reading for all who seek to better understand the trajectory of American social thought and all its contradictions."

Kristin Plys, J. Clawson Mills Scholar, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, USA, and Associate Professor of Sociology and History, University of Toronto, Canada

"In this brilliant masterpiece of social theory, Lemert weaves a rich, diverse, and inclusive tapestry of ideas that shine a spotlight on the complex debates shaping our social world and the very essence of America itself. By skilfully placing often overlooked scholars in dialogue with the traditionally revered voices in knowledge production, Lemert offers a fresh and nuanced perspective on how we collectively understand and engage with our surroundings. Through captivating storytelling and profound philosophical inquiry, this book is an essential guide for understanding the intricate ways in which the collective of American thinkers, including scholars denied, make sense of a shared social landscape. A must-read for anyone seeking to understand social theory, past, present, and future."

Victor Rios, Professor of Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA