Uses statistical tables, charts, photographs, maps, and illustrations to explore everyday life in the United States during the Cold War period.

1. The Americans: population and immigration -- 2. Weather and climate -- 3. Chronology, 1946-1990 -- 4. The American economy -- 5. Transportation -- 6. Communications -- 7. Vital statistics and health care -- 8. Religion -- 9. Politics and government -- 10. Military forces and wars: hot and cold -- 11. States -- 12. Cities of the United States (The most, and least, promising metropolitan counties, 1990 ; New York City ; Los Angeles ; Chicago ; Houston ; Philadelphia ; San Diego ; Detroit ; Dallas ; Phoenix ; San Antonio). 13. Prominent and representative Americans (Rachel Carson ; Cesar Chavez ; Vine Deloria, Jr. ; Clint Eastwood ; Chris Evert ; Ella Fitzgerald ; Betty Friedan ; Billy Graham ; Bob Hope ; Hubert H. Humphrey ; Daniel K. Inouye ; Lyndon B. Johnson ; Barbara Jordan ; George F. Kennan ; John F. Kennedy ; Martin Luther King, Jr. ; Henry Kissinger ; Ray Kroc ; Nancy Lopez ; Malcolm X ; Thurgood Marshall ; Joe McCarthy ; James Michener ; Marilyn Monroe ; Richard M. Nixon ; Sandra Day O'Connor ; I.M. Pei ; Jackson Pollock ; Colin Powell ; Elvis Presley ; Ronald Reagan ; Jackie Robinson ; Jonas Salk ; Charles M. Schulz ; William B. Shockley ; Frank Sinatra ; Harry S. Truman ; Werner von Braun ; George C. Wallace ; Ryan White)-- 14. Education -- 15. Science and technology -- 16. Art and architecture -- 17. Entertainment -- 18. Sports -- 19. Crime and punishment -- 20. Selected documents.