In Is America Different? major scholars from the realms of history, politics, economics, and sociology return to the question in the light of changes in the last thirty years and debate an answer which is appropriate to our time.

Preface; Seymour Martin Lipset: Overview: American exceptionalism reaffirmed; Daniel Bell: Politics: The 'Hegelian Secret': Civil society and American exceptionalism; Peter Temin: Economics: 'Free land and federalism: American economic exceptionalism; Andrew M. Greeley: Religion: American exceptionalism: The religious phenomenon; Aaron Wildavsky: Culture: Resolved, that individualism and egalitarianism be made compatible in America: Political-cultural roots of exceptionalism; Martin Trow: Education: American Higher Education: 'Exceptional' or just different?; Richard Rose: Public policy: Is American public policy exceptional?; Byron E. Shafer: Afterword: What is the Amerian way? Four themes in search of their next incarnation