Americana the Beautiful: Mid-Century Culture in Kodachrome Book

As a resident of an older home, I've always enjoyed finding pictures of historic homes. While I pour over period appropriate details, the images are vaguely antiseptic with photographs of pristine interiors destined for bungalow catalogs. Americana the Beautiful is the exact opposite. It is a glimpse into yesteryear, but fully encompasses how Americans truly lived, not aspired to live, as in Pottery Barn catalogs. Phoenix presents all the quirky details of midcentury culture, kitschy and uninhibited crafts, political incorrectness, space age fascination, post-war consumerism and economic aspirations, and mass industrialization of goods and food. The pictures are vibrant, candid, intimate, humorous and poignant. I've heard Phoenix speak on my local NPR station several times, but now I will definitely seek out one of his live slide slows.