Music in the Age of Anxiety by James E. Wierzbicki does a great job of placing the American music of the 1950's in historical and sociological context. He mentions that for him the 50s were simply the time when he grew up, so he brings that perspective to the analysis of what role the various music played as well as why. A writer significantly younger might have been unconsciously influenced by either the sugar-coated version of the 70s (Happy Days, Grease, etc) or the more realistic but dark version of the turn of the new millenium (Pleasantville, Good Night, and Good Luck, etc).

The writing flowed well with little academic jargon in the text itself but offers detailed explanations and resources for those interested in more than just the "that song really sounds good" aspect of music. If your interest is in music and not just songs, the endnotes and resources are a treasure while the text itself is clear and easy to follow.

As with almost every book that addresses music in conjunction with history, whether music history or history in general, this is 'a' history of music in the 19502, not 'the' history. Wierzbicki is not exhaustive in his examples but rather uses enough examples to illustrate his points within each section as well as the book as a whole.

Most of the history books and courses with which I am familiar emphasize a couple of points about why the musical changes that took place then took place, based primarily on the perspective of the authors or instructors. This volume fills the holes that are left from those longer histories and does so with a very balanced view.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in music and how it can lead or follow societal shifts or how it can comment on society. While there will certainly be some nostalgia induced for many readers this is less nostalgic than, say, a work like Covach's What's That Sound? Covach's book is still an essential book for history of rock 'n roll courses but because it is looking closer at charts and song form (AABA, etc) it stirs a great deal more nostalgia.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )

This is a well written and researched book that covers all types of music from early popular to classical in the 1950's and its place in the growth of political activities and other areas of life in that time.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher University of Illinois Press via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review. ( )