The American Mind in Action

By Harvey J. O'Higgins and Edward H. Reede

"The American Mind in Action" is a pioneering study that seeks to analyze the unique psychological landscape of the United States through the lives of its most influential figures. Written at a time when psychoanalysis was beginning to permeate the broader culture, Harvey Jerrold O'Higgins offers a series of interpretive biographies that explore the underlying motivations, neuroses, and character traits defining the American spirit.

Through insightful examinations of luminaries such as Mark Twain, Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Andrew Carnegie, the work investigates how the pressures of Puritan morality, industrial ambition, and the democratic ideal shaped the personalities of those who built the nation. O'Higgins attempts to move beyond mere historical facts to uncover the "internal history" of his subjects, suggesting that the American character is a product of specific environmental and psychological tensions.

This classic volume remains a fascinating artifact of early 20th-century thought, providing readers with a window into the evolving understanding of psychology and its application to national identity. It is an essential read for those interested in the intersection of biography, sociology, and the historical development of the American psyche.

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025267079
• ISBN13: 9781025267074
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 348 Pages
• Weight: 1.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"