A history of intentional communities in America in the last quarter of the twentieth century.
The final volume in Miller's trilogy on the history of American intentional communities. Providing a comprehensive survey of communities during the last quarter of the twentieth century, Miller offers a detailed study of their character, scope, and evolution.
Communes in America: 1975–2000 is the final volume in Miller's trilogy on the history of American intentional communities. Providing a comprehensive survey of communities during the last quarter of the twentieth century, Miller offers a detailed study of their character, scope, and evolution.
Between 1975 and 2000, the American communal experience evolved dramatically in response to social and environmental challenges that confronted American society as a whole. Long-accepted social norms and institutions—family, religion, medicine, and politics—were questioned as the divorce rate increased, interest in spiritual teachings from Asia grew, and alternative medicine gained ground. Cohousing flourished as a response to an increasing sense of alienation and a need to balance community and private lives. At the same time, Americans became increasingly concerned with environmental protection and preservation of our limited resources. In the face of these social changes, communal living flourished as people sought out communities of like-minded individuals to pursue a higher purpose.
Organized topically, each chapter in the volume provides basic information about various types of communities and detailed examples of each type, from ecovillages and radical Christian communities to pagan communes and cohousing experiments. Miller also takes a step back to look at the prevalence of communal living in American life over the twentieth century. Based on exhaustive research, Miller's final volume provides an indispensable survey and guide to understanding utopianism's enduring presence in American culture.
“Tim Miller's look at communal groups that emerged in the last quarter of the twentieth century contributes greatly to our understanding of the significance of utopian movements in the United States. Building upon the foundations laid in the first two volumes of this series, Miller extends our understanding of intentional communities beyond that of hippies and Hutterites. Although proponents of communitarianism are few, their influence and impact run deep, as this remarkable volume demonstrates.”
Communes in America is a thorough and sympathetic chronicle of the groups Miller identifies as intentional communities that flourished in the last quarter of the twentieth century.-- "Nova Religio"
Communes in America, clearly written and available in paperback, would be ideal for university courses. Miller's research, analysis and writing style provide engaging content, but the volume also offers a model for students. It presents accessible material and ideals without sacrificing scholarship.-- "Religion, State and Society"
Communes in America, 1975-2000 is an excellent final volume in Miller's series, which itself is the first attempt to comprehensively study the intentional community phenomenon from 1900 to 2000.-- "New York History"
Timothy Miller is professor of religious studies at the University of Kansas. He is the author of numerous books, including The Quest for Utopia in Twentieth-Century America: 1900–1960 and The 60s Communes: Hippies and Beyond.
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