Reshaping of Everyday Life - Book Report/Review Example

In the book, the author quotes various letters, diaries and reports written at the time in order to assist in describing how individuals lived in the years after gaining their independence. He also quoted statistics such as the number of children and the archaeological studies. Jack Larkin clearly explains the hard times, diseases, slavery and the progress of the new ways of life between the years 1790 to 1840. The book mainly describes how the ancestors struggled in the past in order to offer a bright or better life to the people in the future.

He therefore explains what the title suggests since it explains the changes that affected life in the early years of 1800’s. Larkin describes the social transformation that escorted the development of the country in the earliest decades of independence. In addition, he cited the statistical research and quoted the contemporary observers on different aspects of daily significance. He also discusses the decrease of the family size due to scarcity of land and movement of settlements westwards.

He also described the steady improvement in housing and the goods bought by railroads. The book, The Reshaping of Everyday Life by Larkin is a very interesting book that makes the readers see the view of a real American life during its infancy as if it all happened yesterday. The book describes various instances and changes that have occurred in the American lifestyle. In the book, cultural and development of aspects in the American history in the 17th and 18th century are among the important and most influential factors in the shaping of the country’s long history.

The community at that time had different views on life and how it was expected to occur. The author explained that the daily routines were different from the present routines. He further explained that the greatest change that occurred was the growth and development of the country. The settlers first settled near the coast when they first arrived in the country. As more settlers continued to arrive, the land became scarce leading to demand for land for agricultural purposes since agriculture was the leading occupation for the new settlers.

Larkin explained that during the early years of exploration and colonization, the new world collided bringing new things both bad and good. There was exchanging of ideas, crops, and products that aided in advancing the cultures. The advancement in civilization mainly started in early 1800’s. Larkin described how people begun treating animals with respect. He also explained that the farmers became more commercial and efficient. American lifestyle changed and started to come into the industrial revolution.

The settlers shared their cultures with the natives. The most important tradition they brought was courtship and marriage. For instance, girls and boys were expected to marry at the age of 13 and 14 respectively. At this age they were viewed as adults. The marriages were arranged by parents and the husband was given power to control his wife’s possession. Divorce was mainly given if the husband agreed with the decision otherwise, the court wouldn’t allow it. As the time went by, people became more civilized and began to have late marriages and having very few children.

In addition, the wedding ceremonies became more private including only close friends. Larkin also described that the Americans, both the natives and the