Summary of The Way We Never Were

The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap, by Stephanie Coontz, is a book that reveals how the idealized version of the past that many people look back on with nostalgia is often inaccurate. Coontz looks back at the history of American families and finds that the “Leave it to Beaver” version of the past never existed. The book examines how the family has changed over time due to economic, social, and technological advances, and how nostalgia for the past can lead to unrealistic expectations. Coontz argues that although the family has changed, this does not mean that it is worse off than in previous generations. Instead, she argues that the family is more diverse and resilient than ever before.