Fad Mania!: A History of American Crazes

Gr 5 Up—Don't be fooled by the size of this slim volume. Inside, readers will find a collection of fads from the last 100 years that fascinated before quickly fading from mainstream American culture. Following a brief introduction to the nature of fads, each craze is presented in chronological order by decade, beginning with the 1920s and ending in the post-millennium years. While many more crazes exist than are discussed here, Bix explores the more notable ones that have dominated the past century. Audience members will be intrigued by entries on dance marathons and goldfish swallowing, but equally engaging are the specific examples, world records, and casual facts that Bix includes in each entry that provide additional support and context. As evidenced in her description of the chain letter craze, she deftly integrates social relevance and context into the narrative, which is especially helpful to today's technology-savvy audience, who may not understand the importance of mail, telephone booths, and pinball machines. Each chapter is filled with striking photographs as well as decade-specific sidebars that list the time period's milestones, further enhancing the connections between pop culture and history. The selected bibliography and list of additional information resources may inspire greater investigation. Don't expect to see this title linger on the shelf for long.—Audrey Sumser, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Mayfield, OH