- President Hoover commissioned 'Recent Social Trends' in 1929, a detailed report on 1920s America, highlighting parallels and contrasts with 2026.
- Similarities between 1926 and 2026 include technological unemployment fears (mechanization vs. AI), economic anxiety amid wealth, and immigration restrictions after high inflows.
- Differences include rural dominance, lack of indoor plumbing/electricity for millions, limited women's suffrage, child labor, and scarce consumer goods like cars and phonographs.
- The typical American in 1926 was a white 26-year-old male, first in family to finish high school, moving from farm to city for unstable manufacturing/retail jobs, earning $100/month without unemployment insurance.
- Economy: Roaring Twenties peak with balance as key concern; rural crisis from surplus and tractors; urban growth from migration; anti-immigrant sentiment led to 1924 restrictions; manufacturing and clerical jobs rose; chain stores and mergers boomed; automotive industry revolutionized life.
- Culture: Women's rights advanced with more working women and flapper culture; Prohibition caused black market growth and deaths from poisoned alcohol; childhood changed with more education and intensive parenting; sports were unprofessional with short baseball games.
- Media: Print media (books, magazines, newspapers) thrived before radio dominance; radio raised concerns about mass manipulation and loss of individuality, similar to modern internet fears.
- Future predictions from 1926 anticipated audiobooks, streaming video, remote work, and AI-like automation fears, while warning technology could erode traditional values, with money becoming a central value.