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The Resource America through foreign eyes, Jorge G. Castañeda

America through foreign eyes, Jorge G. Castañeda

Creator
Author
Summary
"Foreigners have been writing about the United States ever since its foundation. Now it is my turn. But please don't hold this against me: the United States itself is at fault. Like a great many people on earth, I've long been fascinated by this remarkable phenomenon which calls itself America. My fate -or perhaps good fortune- has been that of a foreigner who for half a century lived the American experience-as a child, as a student, as an author, as a recurrent visitor and as a university professor. Being Mexican places me in a special category: having lost half its territory to the United States in the 19th century, having found itself caught up in the maelstrom of America's current identity crisis, Mexico can never ignore what happens north of the border. Further, while serving as Mexico's Foreign Minister from 2000 to 2003, I had the privilege of peeping inside the machinery of power that makes this great nation tick. That said, this book is not written from a Mexican perspective but rather from that of a sympathetic foreign critic who has seen the United States from both inside and outside. And its hope is to contribute something to how Americans view themselves and are viewed by the world. Before embarking on this journey, I naturally looked back at some of my forebears, earlier foreigners who were drawn to visit or live in the United States and who then went on to offer their version of America to their home readers. Some like the French traveler Alexis de Tocqueville, author of the early 19th century classic, Democracy in America, felt European nations had much to learn from the American democratic experiment. Others like Charles Dickens left dismayed by what he considered to be the country's singular obsession with money. But they are just two of dozens who have tried-and continue to try- to find a magic key that unlocks the complexities and contradictions of American society. Indeed, it is as if the United States seeks to challenge foreign writers to explain it, confident they will fail. And in taking it on, these outsiders have variously experienced frustration, hope, anger, excitement, disappointment and enlightenment- but never indifference"--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
viii, 307 pages
Note
  • Includes bibliographical references and index
  • Source of cataloging data: WCP
Contents
  • American sameness, or the world's first middle class
  • How exceptional is American exceptionalism?
  • The blessings of American culture and the road to American civilization
  • Dysfunctional democracy and its discontents
  • Don't know much about history ... but "if you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you" (Groucho Marx)
  • Apple and Wall Street
  • American pragmatism and hypocrisy : drugs and immigration
  • Race and religion in America
  • The unforgivable : mass incarceration, the death penalty, guns, and intelligent design
Isbn
9780190224493
Instance
Label
America through foreign eyes
Title
America through foreign eyes
Statement of responsibility
Jorge G. Castañeda
Creator
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
"Foreigners have been writing about the United States ever since its foundation. Now it is my turn. But please don't hold this against me: the United States itself is at fault. Like a great many people on earth, I've long been fascinated by this remarkable phenomenon which calls itself America. My fate -or perhaps good fortune- has been that of a foreigner who for half a century lived the American experience-as a child, as a student, as an author, as a recurrent visitor and as a university professor. Being Mexican places me in a special category: having lost half its territory to the United States in the 19th century, having found itself caught up in the maelstrom of America's current identity crisis, Mexico can never ignore what happens north of the border. Further, while serving as Mexico's Foreign Minister from 2000 to 2003, I had the privilege of peeping inside the machinery of power that makes this great nation tick. That said, this book is not written from a Mexican perspective but rather from that of a sympathetic foreign critic who has seen the United States from both inside and outside. And its hope is to contribute something to how Americans view themselves and are viewed by the world. Before embarking on this journey, I naturally looked back at some of my forebears, earlier foreigners who were drawn to visit or live in the United States and who then went on to offer their version of America to their home readers. Some like the French traveler Alexis de Tocqueville, author of the early 19th century classic, Democracy in America, felt European nations had much to learn from the American democratic experiment. Others like Charles Dickens left dismayed by what he considered to be the country's singular obsession with money. But they are just two of dozens who have tried-and continue to try- to find a magic key that unlocks the complexities and contradictions of American society. Indeed, it is as if the United States seeks to challenge foreign writers to explain it, confident they will fail. And in taking it on, these outsiders have variously experienced frustration, hope, anger, excitement, disappointment and enlightenment- but never indifference"--
Assigning source
Provided by publisher
Cataloging source
LBSOR/DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorDate
1953-
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Castañeda, Jorge G.
Dewey number
973
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
E895
LC item number
.C38 2020
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Exceptionalism
  • National characteristics, American
  • United States
  • United States
  • United States
Label
America through foreign eyes, Jorge G. Castañeda
Instantiates
Publication
Note
  • Includes bibliographical references and index
  • Source of cataloging data: WCP
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
American sameness, or the world's first middle class -- How exceptional is American exceptionalism? -- The blessings of American culture and the road to American civilization -- Dysfunctional democracy and its discontents -- Don't know much about history ... but "if you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you" (Groucho Marx) -- Apple and Wall Street -- American pragmatism and hypocrisy : drugs and immigration -- Race and religion in America -- The unforgivable : mass incarceration, the death penalty, guns, and intelligent design
Control code
on1121085626
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
viii, 307 pages
Isbn
9780190224493
Lccn
2019044724
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)1121085626
Label
America through foreign eyes, Jorge G. Castañeda
Publication
Note
  • Includes bibliographical references and index
  • Source of cataloging data: WCP
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
American sameness, or the world's first middle class -- How exceptional is American exceptionalism? -- The blessings of American culture and the road to American civilization -- Dysfunctional democracy and its discontents -- Don't know much about history ... but "if you find it hard to laugh at yourself, I would be happy to do it for you" (Groucho Marx) -- Apple and Wall Street -- American pragmatism and hypocrisy : drugs and immigration -- Race and religion in America -- The unforgivable : mass incarceration, the death penalty, guns, and intelligent design
Control code
on1121085626
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
viii, 307 pages
Isbn
9780190224493
Lccn
2019044724
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)1121085626

Subject

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