Postman, N. Building a Bridge to the 18th Century: How the Past Can Improve Our Future. New York: Vintage Books, 1999

Summary: Postman describes several ways in which the 18th century has more to teach us in modern times than the 19th. In each chapter he reviews a different aspect of culture, including some surprising ones, such as technology, information, and childhood.

Use: I was most struck in this book by learning that childhood was a social construction of the 18th century.