The 1960s were a particularly turbulent period, and the events of those years continue to interest and influence American society. This bibliography records and documents the most significant happenings of that decade. The volume spans the years between 1960 and the resignation of President Nixon in 1974. It includes citations for more than 1300 books related to that period. Some of the books were written during the 1960s and directly influenced people of that time. Others were written afterward, and analyze and interpret the events of the decade. The entries are arranged in topical chapters, and each citation is accompanied by a descriptive and evaluative annotation.

The volume begins with an introduction that overviews and discusses the major events and trends of the time. The 17 topical chapters that follow treat virtually every aspect of life in the 1960s. The first few chapters include general works on the underlying social, political, and economic conditions that served to define the decade. Other chapters discuss works on the presidencies, social protests, the impact of the Vietnam war, the cultural revolution, and trends in art, music, literature, and religion. The bibliography concludes with author, title, and subject indexes that add to its value as a reference tool.