Book Review on "The Fifties" by David Halberstam

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Book Review: The Fifties by David Halberstam
Halberstam is a master of threatening themes. In The Fifties, he brings out the political happenings, disproportionately represents the Cold War, and illustrates the accusations between the Democrats and Republicans as they accused each other of tolerating Communism. The Fifties is a historical novel that focuses on the events during the 1950s in the United States. It is a historical narrative that does highlights the wars, treaties, and act of Congress. Additionally, it offers insights into the diverse events, including the politics and culture of the 1950s. The book does not entirely concentrate on the 1950s decade. The issues being described started in the 1940s and are projected into the 1960s. There is a proficient combination of the stories, combining the social, economic, and political factors influencing people behaviors.
The novel begins with the United States frantic response to the initiation of the atomic age. Halberstam writes, “It was a mean time. The nation was ready for witch hunt” (9). Using the career of Robert Oppenheimer, the author documents the diverse meanness, which included “accusations of fellow-travelling, anti-Semitism, and professional jealousy” (Angell 29). These issues were the main causes of the scientific and political discourses in the early years of the 1950s decade. The book can be used as a historical highlight of the 1950s, a period with numerous changes and promise. It is a reflection of how the country has progressed in the following decades based on the happenings during the 1950s.
The narration style is smooth and amusing, exploring the technological developments and societal transformations that took place during the period. Moreover, while highlighting the positive traits of the period, the author underscores the moral and ethical impacts of the changes. As a result, he creates a moving story of rational consequences of scientific advancement. The narrative includes the tendency of the United States towards a “sexual revolution” resulting from the manufacturing of better birth control therapies and the gradual development towards the American Dream. During the 1950s, many people had access to affordable housing and basic education as a result of their service during the Second World War. It is evident that the country was transforming and Halberstam flawlessly reflects the change that was taking place during the period.
It is worth noting that Halberstam did not fail to highlight the political events of the time. United States was a nation that was strong and united. However, he also depicts the divisions in the upper levels of government as a result of partisan interests. The political happenings led to the antagonistic periods after the decade, which included harsh fights between political values that resulted from the national consciousness after the 1950s decade. The political awakening resulted from better communication through novel forms of media that pinpointed the diverse issues in the country. It is his narrative that illustrates the proverbial calm before the storm. All the issues that led to the country unity and peace during the decade, its increasi...