Suburbia, Addiction, And Film, Covered in Morris Township Author's New Book

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — Those looking for a glimpse into the complexities of New Jersey suburbia and The American Dream won’t have to look far, for a local Morris Township resident has published his first book covering those ideas, and much more.

Mark Ehrenkranz, a 40-year Morris Township local, announced the release of his brand new memoir, “The Great American Suburban Experiment.”

The book recounts Ehrenkranz’s time growing up in New Jersey in the 1960s and 70s, specifically West Orange, which he said is one of the first suburban tract divisions on this side of the country. He discusses the social standards that suburbia imparted onto him and how that affected him personally and professionally.

Additionally, Ehrenkranz explores how these suburban notions influenced his history of substance abuse and his career in the film industry. He considers the book an “interwoven story of history, sociology, career, and recovery.”

“It always interested me about that prosperous time of the country, in the 60s and 70s, how suburbia came about, from highways and cars and the master plan of the country,” Ehrenkranz told Patch. “And sort of the behavioral and psychological effects it had on some, including me.”

The American Suburban Experiment refers to the boom in suburban neighborhoods after World War II ended. According to Oxford Research, the suburbia boom shaped habits of “car dependency and commuting, patterns of spending and saving, and experiences with issues as diverse as race and taxes, energy and nature, privacy and community.”

“(The American Suburban Experiment) had a lot of adverse effects on people’s psyches, and the treadmill of work, and it bred a lot of different things, including me,” Ehrenkranz said. “I was a subject of that experiment, as were my parents, and the whole suburban notion continues… The book explores all of that and my personal journey as a result of this judgemental, consumer, competitive society.”

Ehrenkranz added that he delves into some interesting stories from the entertainment industry, including connections with the TV show “Seinfeld,” singer/songwriter Carol King, and Michael Nesmith from The Monkees.

Ehrenkranz’s idea for the book came after he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a blood and bone marrow cancer, for which he had to undergo several months of treatment and recovery.

He said he wasn’t looking to "have any kind of catharsis,” but was looking for something to keep him focused during that time. He added that his treatment was successful and he is now in remission.

One of Ehrenkranz’s main hopes for the memoir is for people to take in his vulnerability and potentially be vulnerable themselves.

“By divulging secrets and becoming vulnerable with radical honesty, it lets people know that they’re not alone… Most families do have baggage and secrets, but they’re not often talked about,” Ehrenkranz said. “Whether it's some sort of emotional trauma, emotional baggage, or some sort of substance or alcohol abuse, the dynamic of getting brutally honest and sharing oneself is very powerful.”

Since retiring from the movie industry, Ehrenkranz has become an addiction specialist, working at a hospital where he helps recovering addicts.

Click here to order and learn more about Ehrenkranz’s “The Great American Suburban Experiment.”