This in-depth review of Christmas history and traditions in the United States covers a period that many Americans remember well. See Christmas decorating customs, electric lighting innovations, and tree decorations, all of which changed drastically as a result of World War II....

In this major reinterpretation of the activities of London\'s merchant community during the early Stuart period, Robert Brenner explains the factors behind the opening of long-distance commerce to the south and east, describes the growing power of the great City merchants, and pro-files the new colonial traders, who became the chief architects of t...

(NOT FOR SALE IN CANADA) Brenner examines whether the 21st Century will be another American century; the financial and regulatory changes required to adjust to a more mobile world; religion and nationalism; the connection between democracy and financial markets; and the links between higher education and myths societies live by....

Christmas celebrations of the past forty years are shown through historical photographs, catalog pages, and over 530 photographs of artificial and real trees, Christmas ornaments, interior and exterior lights, candy containers, cards, tinsel garlands, and cheerful holiday figurines....

A World of Chance shows how some societies created more chances for their members than others and, as a result, prospered. The book looks at events through the prism of risk-taking, games of chance, futures, and financial markets, and how religion, politics, and finance interacted to bring about the situation societies find themselves in today....