The Rise and Fall of American Growth

The Rise and Fall of American Growth by Robert J. Gordon provides a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. standard of living since the Civil War, focusing on the period between 1870 and 1970. The book adopts the "special century" approach to economic growth, emphasizing that the United States experienced a unique interval of rapid growth during this time, which is unlikely to be replicated. It explores the technological advancements and innovations that transformed American households and workplaces, such as electric lighting, indoor plumbing, motor vehicles, air travel, and television, and their impact on the standard of living. The author challenges the notion that economic growth will continue unabated and argues that the unprecedented scale of innovations witnessed between 1870 and 1970 cannot be repeated. The book weaves together a vivid narrative, historical anecdotes, and economic analysis to demonstrate that the era of exceptional growth has come to an end, challenging the belief in continued economic progress