"The First Measured Century is a fast paced narrative with unique graphics. It's history as you've never seen it, measured. And dramatic. The three-hour PBS program The First Measured Century, tells the story of America by the numbers through the eyes of those who did the measuring and the interpreting, often in highly controversial and unusual circumstances."

Ben Wattenberg is the moderator or, as he puts it, the "immoderator, of the weekly PBS series Think Tank. Welcome to our special, The First Measured Century: A Look at American History by the Numbers, and the story of social science pioneers, who by measuring America helped changed it."

"At this site you can buy or download the book, THE FIRST MEASURED CENTURY: An Illustrated Guide to Trends in America, 1900–2000 by Theodore Caplow, Louis Hicks and Ben J. Wattenberg. This is a book about social change in the United States during the twentieth century. It relies on statistical trends to tell that awesome story. 

You can also read the entire book online! "During the twentieth century, Americans became the most energetic measurers of social life that ever lived. They measured everything that had been counted before, such as population and the size of the government’s territory and army. And they pioneered the measurement of facets of American life that had never been systematically counted before, such as crime, love, food, fun, religion, and work.

"The First Measured Century was designed as a tool for teachers and students, journalists and bureaucrats, managers and consultants, social scientists and housewives, and everyone else who wants a better understanding of American society."