Some of America’s greatest products have solved problems — and others have changed culture. As Joel Stein, author of “America: The Imagination of a Nation,” tells it, these are their stories.

Sneaker Culture & Streetwear

Humans have always turned craft into art. So when Nike teamed up with NBA star Michael Jordan in 1985, sneakers moved out of gym lockers and into display cases, signaling one’s devotion. Streetwear bubbled up from innovations on basketball courts in Chicago, skateboarders in Venice Beach and hip-hop fans in The Bronx. Limited releases saw people waiting overnight to buy assets they could resell for thousands. At first, the traditional top-down fashion world scoffed, but eventually this new trend revolutionized global consumerism, elevating everyday athletic wear into a luxury status symbol.

Credit Cards

A credit card may seem like a simple piece of plastic, but it represents one of the most powerful tools and inventions in modern consumer life. Introduced widely in the mid-twentieth century, it democratized access to purchasing power — transforming the way people shop, dine and travel and fueling an economy of continuous consumption. The credit card’s current life in digital apps is a reminder that its evolution is far from over

Barbie

Barbie was founded in 1959 by Ruth Handler, a mother and entrepreneur whose inspiration came from watching her daughter play with baby dolls and paper dolls with fashionable outfits. Ruth combined the two ideas in a grown-up three-dimensional figure. Her philosophy? That girls could play and envision themselves as anything they wanted to be, pioneering the “lifestyle brand” model. Over the past six-plus decades, Barbie has empowered generations to imagine themselves in aspirational roles, from astronaut to doctor.

Levi’s

Wearing Levi’s in the 1960s was a college kid’s show of solidarity with the working class. It meant you didn’t care to get into country clubs, land a corporate job or eat at fancy restaurants (or, perhaps, be in your parents’ will). These rugged pants, first manufactured in San Francisco in 1873 for ranchers, farmers and gold miners, achieved some mainstream popularity with the 1930s dude-ranch fad; but it was really once the hippies took down formalwear that jeans — and Levi’s especially — become the universal attire that blends in anywhere.

Apple

From MacBooks to iPods to the iPhone, today’s world is largely dependent on one company’s incredible influence. In the mid-1970s, Apple began as a start-up in a garage in Los Altos, Calif., where co-founder Steve Jobs fostered an idea that would shape the world. Although not a software developer, he knew how to chase a vision and bring people into his orbit, leading to Apple becoming both innovative and cool.

Harley Davidson

At the dawn of the 20th century, motorcycles became a burgeoning fixation in America — and Harley-Davidson was one of the leaders of this new industry. Over time, that name became synonymous with the vehicle itself. While other classic American companies such as Indian Motorcycle kept a tighter frame, riding a Harley meant leaning into its relaxed, larger-than-life persona. The company became an enduring symbol of American freedom, rebellion and individuality after the 1969 film “Easy Rider,” in which Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper ride around America on (heavily customized) 1949 and 1952 Harley-Davidson panhead choppers.

Henry Ford & The Model T

When the first Ford Model T hit the streets, there was no going back. Henry Ford’s automobile would forever change not just American innovation but the global economy — shifting the car from a luxury toy for the wealthy into an everyday essential for the middle class. His invention would also soon lead to innovations in everything from modern trucking to shipping lines to highway construction through the use of vertical integration.

McDonald’s

Post-World War II, the United States was efficient, confident, friendly, standardized and all about taking over the world. Naturally, Americans were drawn to McDonald’s, where fast food was served without needing to turn off the car — and the meal literally declared its happiness. Laying the groundwork for the modern fast-food model, the brand introduced unprecedented convenience, standardization and speed to daily life, ultimately shaping global dietary habits.

Coca-Cola

Born in an Atlanta pharmacy in 1886, Coca-Cola grew from a local curiosity into one of the most recognizable symbols on earth. More than a beverage, it became a language of American optimism: bright red, instantly familiar, carrying the promise of refreshment and possibility. From mid-century diners and roadside billboards to global stadiums and remote villages, Coke has traveled as a cultural ambassador, embodying the friendliness, fun and aspirational ease that defined the American Dream. Its script logo, contoured glass bottle, and effervescent imagery helped export an idea as powerful as the drink itself: that joy could be shared, opened and passed from hand to hand.

Nike & ‘Just Do It’

Created by Phil Knight and University of Oregon track coach Bill Bowerman in 1964, Nike went on to launched its “Just Do It” campaign in 1988, turning that phrase into an attitude. If Coca-Cola was America’s happiness, Nike was its restless ambition. Those three words refuted all excuses. It was a call to action over thought. Even if Air Jordans didn’t allow the wearer to dunk, they imbued the power to work just as hard as their namesake did. In doing so, Nike helped pioneer a new kind of branding, in which a slogan, a symbol and a mindset could sell the product without even showing it.