David Riesman's The Lonely Crowd: A Study in the Changing American
Character is one of the best-known books in the history of
sociology - holding a mirror up to contemporary America and showing
the nation its own character as it had never seen it before. Its
success is a testament to Riesman's mastery of one key critical
thinking skill: interpretation. In critical thinking,
interpretation focuses on understanding the meaning of evidence,
and is frequently characterized by laying down clear definitions,
and clarifying ideas and categories for the reader. All these
processes are on full display in The Lonely Crowd - which, rather
than seeking to challenge accepted wisdom or generate new ideas,
provides incisive interpretations and definitions of ideas and data
from a variety of sources. Above all, Riesman's book is a work of
categorization - a form of interpretation that can be vital to
building and communicating systematic arguments. With the aid of
his two co-authors (Nathan Glazer and Reuel Denney), he defined
three cultural types that formed a perfect pattern for
understanding mid-century American society and the changes it was
undergoing. The clarity of the book's definitions tapped directly
into the zeitgeist of the 1950s, powering it to best-seller status
and an audience that extended far beyond academia.
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