Searching for the American Dream How a Sense of Place Shapes the Study of History

Searching for the American Dream is a theoretical and practical exploration of genius loci. Beginning with John Dewey and an investigation into the importance of experiential learning, Moore invites a range of scholars, curators, teachers and students to distil their experiences into a series of essays on the importance of 'place'. From visiting the tenement museum in the Lower East Side in New York, to watching live history in the form of the Trial of Bridget Bishop in Salem, to having a private audience with state department officials, to attending an AFL-CIO meeting and taking classes with scholars in American studies, animal rights and education, Glenn Moore's book 'takes you there'. At a time when university teachers are looking for ways to energize students who all too often are questioning the relevance of their degrees, this is a timely study. It explains the theory of experiential learning, and outlines the rewards available to the lecturer brave enough to take students out of the classroom and expose them to real world experiences. The ground breaking feature of the book, however, is that it offers practical advice on how to plan, organize and conduct an international study tour.