James Truslow Adams

Date of Birth: October 18, 1878

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: May 18, 1949

Biography

James Truslow Adams was an influential American historian and writer, best known for coining the term “American Dream” in his 1931 book “The Epic of America.” Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Adams graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and later earned a master’s degree from Yale University. His works primarily focused on American history and culture, contributing significantly to the understanding of American identity and ethos. Adams authored several important works, including “The Founding of New England” (1921), which won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1922. His other notable books include “America’s Tragedy” (1934), “The Living Jefferson” (1936), and “The March of Democracy” series. Throughout his career, Adams emphasized the importance of historical context in understanding contemporary American society.

5 Interesting Facts about James Truslow Adams

1. James Truslow Adams coined the term “American Dream” in his book “The Epic of America” (1931).

2. He won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1922 for his book “The Founding of New England.”

3. Adams initially worked in the banking industry before turning to a career in writing and history.

4. Despite his significant contributions to American historiography, Adams never held a professorship at a university.

5. Adams was a critic of materialism and believed that the American Dream should focus on social and cultural values rather than wealth.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from James Truslow Adams

1. “The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement.”

2. “There are obviously two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.”

3. “Seventy years ago, the American nation did not know what the ‘American Dream’ was. It was not coined until 1931, when James Truslow Adams wrote ‘The Epic of America’.”

4. “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”

5. “The freedom now desired by many is not freedom to do and dare but freedom from care and worry.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth achieved by James Truslow Adams is not well-documented, but his contributions to literature and history have left an indelible mark on American culture.