65 pages • 2 hours read
Marshall BermanAll That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1982A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
All That Is Solid Melts Into Air: The Experience of Modernity by Marshall Berman explores the dynamic nature of modernity through philosophical, economic, and cultural lenses, analyzing its effects on identity, community, and urban spaces via the works of Goethe, Marx, and Baudelaire, and the urban transformations in cities like Paris, St. Petersburg, and New York. Berman addresses themes such as modernization's paradoxical creation and destruction, urban spatial transformation, and the impact of economic and technological change on culture and society. The book touches on sensitive topics, including suicidal ideation.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Marshall Berman's All That Is Solid Melts Into Air is widely praised for its insightful exploration of modernity and its impactful blend of literature, philosophy, and social theory. Critics commend Berman's engaging prose and multidisciplinary approach. However, some find it dense and challenging due to its extensive references and complexity. Overall, it remains a seminal, thought-provoking work.
Who Should Read All That Is Solid Melts Into Air?
Readers who relish All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Marshall Berman typically enjoy interdisciplinary studies, particularly those blending literature, philosophy, and urban sociology. Enthusiasts of works like The Communist Manifesto by Marx and Engels or Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard will find Berman's analysis compelling and enriching.