David L. Mason. From Buildings and Loans to Bail-Outs: A History of the American Savings and Loan Industry, 1831-1995. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2004. xii + 349 pp. ISBN 0-521-82754-X, $50.00.

This book provides a long-term history of the savings and loanindustry in the United States, outlining and developing fourthemes. First is the history of the enterprises themselves,from their earliest years to the crisis-ridden deregulationperiod of recent history. Author David Mason also charts thegenesis and impact of collective activity—the trade associationsthat attempted to represent or regulate the industry. Third,he chronicles the relationship between the sector and government;and finally, the author aims to assess the