The American Dream: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation - Hardcover

Rather, Dan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688178928 ISBN 13: 9780688178925

Publisher: William Morrow, 2001

Synopsis

The American Dream is inherently inclusive, and has the power to strike a chord in all of us. It defines us as a people, even as we add to its meaning with each new chapter in our national experience and our individual actions. [This book] is the result of my quest to discover the American dream as your neighbors are creating it today -- I hope that you receive it well. And I wish all of you the best in bringing your own dreams to fruition.

--Dan Rather, from the Introduction

An inspirational look at how our nation's earliest ideals resonate in today's world, The American Dream shows us in very personal terms that America is still a place where hard work, dedication, and vision can transform dreams into reality. Bestselling author and award-winning journalist Dan Rather provides a powerful look at Americans who struggle for and achieve their desires and ambitions. He has gathered the stories of ordinary men and women who are accomplishing the extraordinary, and demonstrates how the American dream guides us as individuals and as a society, binding us together, even amid the fragmenting and self-isolating tendencies of modern American life.

Each person in this book exemplifies the American dream, living and expressing this national ideal in his or her own way. For some the American dream is simply to own a home or start a family. Some wish to serve God, country, or community; to teach; to test boundaries; to rise out of poverty. Some yearn to live off the land or run their own business. Some want to learn to read or earn a college degree. There are those who work to achieve fame and fortune, while still others simply wish to exercise fundamental American rights:

to openly practice their religion, to speak what is in their minds and hearts, and to protest.

Stirring and provocative, The American Dream illustrates that the basic American desire for "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is alive and well. It also confirms what our founding fathers always believed: that we are a country of visionaries, in ways big and small.

About this title

Review:

Despite years of reporting on tragedies around the world, Dan Rather is clearly an optimist. His take on the American dream, as personified by more than 30 Americans, is an inspiring reminder that the ideals the nation was founded upon are still alive and well. Rather first looked at how Americans pursued the American dream in a yearlong feature for his CBS Evening News show. His book takes off where the series ended, with more in-depth stories of those successfully pursuing their version of the dream.

Nosrat Scott came to the U.S. in search of freedom of religion. She was so persecuted for her Bah'ai faith in Iran that she was moved to tears when she realized she could speak openly of her religion in her English-as-a-second-language class. For many, of course, the American dream is all about making it rich. Some traveled long distances only to be surprised by fortune, such as Trung Dung, who escaped Vietnam at the age of 17 and became a multimillionaire with his Internet start-up company. There are those who covet the pursuit of happiness as an end in itself, such as the couple who gave up their high-paying jobs in Southern California to move to a small town in Oregon in order to meet their "not rich criteria"--that is, time for family and community. And there are those who have to swallow their pride to get there, like the chef from Georgia who learned to read at age 26. Other dreams are organized under the headings of fame, family, innovation, and service, which could just as easily have been titled the pursuit of justice.

There are few recognizable names here, but the stories of these everyday heroes are a spirited antidote to a creeping national cynicism and a vigorous challenge to seize on the opportunities--and responsibilities--that the dream implies. --Lesley Reed

About the Author:

Dan Rather has received virtually every honor in broadcast journalism, including numerous Emmy Awards and the Peabody Award. He is anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, anchor of 48 Hours, and correspondent for 60 Minutes II. He is also the authorof such bestsellers as Deadlines & Datelines, The Camera Never Blinks, and The Palace Guard. He lives in New York City with his wife, Jean.

About this edition

• Publisher: William Morrow
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0688178928
• ISBN 13: 9780688178925
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288