Fourteen essays by Warren Susman (1927-1985) explore 20th-century American culture. Topics include, for example, the nature of American conservatism, the cultural contradictions of a consumer society, and the role of the urban experience in the development of American culture. Susman was a professor of history at Rutgers University. Written over the course of his career, the essays presented here appeared previously in various publications or were given at public forums. Annotation (c) Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)