Radical Visions and American Dreams: Culture and Social Thought in the Depression Years Book

Pells describes the intellectual and political infighting that took place among liberals in America between 1920 and 1940. He describes how some people were more attracted to communism, some thought that they could work with the communists, and some were more skeptical. He describes the conflicts as bitter and personal. The book was originally written in the early 70s and Pells appears to be trying to help liberals in that time period to learn from the bad example of 30s and 40s liberals. He examines popular media like books and movies for the ideas they contained. Some playwrights tried to write plays that were propaganda, but they weren't well received. People were interested in movies a diversion not to be taught by it. The upbeat nature of the movies caused people to let off steam. They did "…inhibit the development of revolutionary ideas…and did indeed contribute…to the decade's increasingly conservative mood.

The book was interesting in that it attempted to show how different groups attempted to use events and media to shape public opinion. As they argued about what and how to do it, the public seemed to go its own way.