Measuring America: How Economic Growth Came to Define American Greatness in the Late Twentieth Century

(University of Massachusetts Press) Yarrow posits that since World War II, Americans have judged the nation’s success and greatness in terms of economic indicators, like GDP. He argues that this was not always the case, as America’s greatness prior to the war was usually couched in terms of the liberal idealism that was articulated by the founders. Yarrow explores why this change has occurred and the effects of this change on the country. Yarrow teaches U.S. history at American University and is a public policy professional and journalist.