The Greeks had Homer. The Victorians had Dickens. And the in late 20th century Americans had primetime drama. In their superb new book thirtysomething: Television, Women, Men and Work, Albert Auster and Leonard Quart dig into the always intricate relations between stories and the societies that produce them. Beyond journalistic clichés such as "superb acting," what made the series so successful and popular? What image of America did it offer its dedicated viewers? In clear but nicely nuanced language the authors offer some impressive answers.