The Machine in the Garden Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America [Paperback]

For over four decades, Leo Marx's work has focused on the relationship between technology and culture in 19th- and 20th-century America. His research helped to define--and continues to give depth to--the area of American studies concerned with the links between scientific and technological advances, and the way society and culture both determine these links.The Machine in the Gardenfully examines the difference between the pastoral and progressive ideals which characterized early 19th-century American culture, and which ultimately evolved into the basis for much of the environmental and nuclear debates of contemporary society.

This new edition is appearing in celebration of the 35th anniversary of Marx's classic text. It features a new afterword by the author on the process of writing this pioneering book, a work that all but founded the discipline now called American Studies.

Praise for the previous edition: An exciting book, exemplifying studies in American culture at their best. --Hennig Cohen,Saturday Review

The thesis of this impressive book is important, and Professor Marx has found a wealth of material to support it. --American Historical Review

This is an important contribution to our understanding of some of the enigmas and conflicts at work in the American imagination, particularly in the nineteenth century. --Tony Tanner,Encounter

Leo Marxis Professor Emeritus of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.