Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. CONTENTS v
3. List of abbreviations vii
4. Preface ix
5. ONE. Introduction 1
6. PART I: ORIGINS
7. TWO. The Foundation of Home Ownership 23
8. THREE. An Industry Unready to Improve 54
9. FOUR. The Realm of the Retailer 75
10. FIVE. The Birth of the Home Improvement Store 98
11. PART II: CRISIS, 1927–1945
12. SIX. A Perfect Storm for the Building Industry 127
13. SEVEN. Manufacturers Save the Retailer 161
14. EIGHT. The State Makes Credit 190
15. PART III: RESOLUTION, 1945–1960
16. NINE. Mr. and Mrs. Builder 229
17. TEN. Help for the Amateur 264
18. ELEVEN. The Improvement Business Coalesces 301
19. TWELVE. A Zelig of the American Cultural Economy 335
20. Notes 347
21. Index 419