Fictional biographies of two American archetypes are used as references for the abstract discussion. The fictional vignettes set in a simpler America demonstrate that family, community, and work are highly interdependent. The discussion then addresses three issues: the conceptualization of the interactions among the three sources of influence; the effectiveness of family, community and work in socializing American youth for adulthood; and the most promising points in the interactive system to direct efforts at improving youths' transition to adulthood. The socialization of youth under the influences of family, community, and work are compared for the United States, Japan, and West Germany. The study concludes that compared to the other two countries, links among family, community, and work in the United States have weakened over time, becoming less supportive of each other and more competitive. America's collective metaphor of life as a contest has focused resources and attention on those who achieve and perform at the highest levels of excellence. Resources for those whose school performance and occupational attainment are in the middle and lower levels are inadequate. Recommendations pertain to the empowering of parents and the strengthening of socialization functions of communities and workplaces. 70 references, 6 notes.