- Price:
- $19.95
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-59947-142-6
- Size:
- 9 x 11
- Page Count:
- 360
- Date Published:
- August 1, 2008
- Price:
- $9.99
- ISBN 13:
- 978-1-59947-229-4
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In today’s consumer-driven society, extolling the virtues of thrift might seem like a quaint relic of a bygone era. Americans have embraced the ideas of easy credit, instant gratification, and spending as a tool to combat everything from recessions to the effects of natural disasters and terrorist attacks. In David Blankenhorn’s new compendium, Thrift: A Cyclopedia, he reminds readers of a time when thrift was one of America’s most cherished cultural values.
Gathering hundreds of quotes, sayings, proverbs, and photographs of Blankenhorn’s vast personal collection of thrift memorabilia, this handsome book is a treasure trove of wisdom from around the world and throughout the ages. Readers will find insights from such varied sources as the Bible, the Qur’an, William Shakespeare, Karl Marx, Oscar Wilde, J. C. Penney, and Warren Buffett. Entries are serious, inspiring, occasionally humorous, and they will go a great way toward expanding the narrow perception of thrift as simple penny pinching; replacing that myopic view with one of a broader thrift—one that, as William H. Kniffen puts it, “earns largely and spends wisely” and leads to a life of independence and comfort well into old age.
Educators and parents will find ample wisdom to pass on to the next generation about the value of hard work, saving for the future, and generosity. Historians will delight in the glimpses into the U.S. thrift movement of the 1920s. Those seeking encouragement and inspiration will find much material here for reflection on the ideals of good stewardship, diligence, and sound financial planning. As our society ails from wastefulness, growing economic inequality, indebtedness, and runaway consumerism, there could be no stronger cure than this powerful little word, “thrift”, which finds its root meaning in the word “thrive.”
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Back to TabsIntroduction / 3
Part 1 What Is Thrift? / 9
1. Thrift as Growing / 12
2. Thrift as Good Fortune / 15
3. Thrift as Prospering / 18
4. Thrift as Saving / 23
5. Thrift as Hoarding / 30
6. What Thrift Is / 37
Part 2 The Cases against Thrift / 55
7. The Ascetic’s Case / 56
8. The Prophet’s Case / 57
9. The Gentleman’s Case / 58
10. The Sensualist’s Case / 61
11. The Economist’s Case / 68
12. The Socialist’s Case / 73
13. The Spendthrift’s Case / 79
Part 3 Visionaries / 83
14. By Dint of His Thrift: Daniel Defoe (b. 1660) / 85
15. The More Treasure They Will Lay Up in Heaven: John Wesley (b. 1703) / 90
16. The Art of Making Money Plenty: Benjamin Franklin (b. 1706) / 93
17. Duncan of Ruthwell: Henry Duncan (b. 1774) / 109
18. Knox’s Bank: James, Walter, and James Knox / 115
19. Those Rules of Thrift and Economy: Catharine Beecher (b. 1800) / 118
20. Those Who Are Not Ashamed of Economy: Lydia Marie Child (b. 1802) / 121
21. The Prophet of Victorian England: Samuel Smiles (b. 1812) / 124
22. Sikes of Huddersfield: Charles Sikes (b. 1818) / 129
23. Who Catches the Vision? Alonzo, Wilmot, and Wilmot Evans / / 133
24. A Constant Lesson in Thrift: Clara Barton (b. 1821) / 135
25. The Greater Thrift: Charles Pratt (b. 1830) / 137
26. Always Had a Broom in My Hand: John Wanamaker (b. 1838) / 139
27. A Day Labourer So Long: Edward Brabrook (b. 1839) / 142
28. The Idea of Thrift: Orison Swett Marden (b. 1850) / / / 144
29. That We May Save the Greatest: Bolton Hall (b. 1854) / 147
30. A Person Who Makes Beautiful Things: Elbert Hubbard (b. 1856) / 150
31. Character in the Highest and Best Sense: Booker T. Washington (b. 1856) / 153
32. Beauty in Homespun: Martha Berry (b. 1866) / 160
33. Creative Economy: S. W. Straus (b. 1866) / 162
34. Take the Nickels and Turn Them into Dollars: Maggie L. Walker (b. 1867) / 166
35. Some Reflection of the Simple Virtues: Laurence C. Jones (b. 1882) / 168
36. George Never Leaves Bedford Falls: Frank Capra (b. 1897) / 172
Part 4 Institutions / 177
37. Thrift Boxes / 179
38. Gardens / 185
39. Friendly and Fraternal Societies / 187
40. Mutual Savings Banks / 192
41. Producer and Consumer Cooperatives / 210
42. Building and Loan Associations / 214
43. Credit Unions / 225
44. Public Libraries / 234
45. Thrift Shops / 240
Part 5 Movements / 243
46. To Build International Solidarity / 245
47. To Bring People Together / 250
48. To Organize Sacrifice / 260
49. To Train Children / 269
Part 6 Thrift Wisdom / 277
50. Proverbs and Maxims / 279
Conclusion: The Possibilities of American Thrift / 291
Acknowledgments / 304
Appendix A: Do You Know What Thrift Is? (A Quiz) / 305
Appendix B: Puritans and Quakers / 306
Notes / 310
Quote Citations / 313
Index / 341
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