Customer Reviews

Discovering America: Travels in the Land of Guns, God, and Corporate Gurus

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a GREAT book. With an occasionally scathing and frequently witty style, Laxer uses a variety of personal experiences garnered while travelling in the US to paint a fascinating and disturbing portrait of American society. The first third of the book is particularly effective as the multiple elements of violence in the U.S. are exposed. This book is like a mirror held in front of one's face; it forces Americans to confront some uncomfortable truths about our national character. With nationalistic fervor high from the Sept. 11 attacks, this may not be a popular read at the moment, but I think Laxer offers an intriguing and sobering view of the U.S. that merits our attention.

If you've ever wondered how American life looks to an outsider, turn to this book. If you have any kind of a sense of humour it will make you laugh out loud. These days there is a real need for some self-analysis and where better to start than with this insightful, witty and critical look by someone who has really explored (and understood)the United States.

Yes, Laxer is a socialist. But no, that's not a bad word where he's from. I have read articles by Laxer in the past, and disagree with his leftist take on most issues.

But in this book, he is on the money. Canadians have a hard time defining their culture: "hockey" and "not Americans" don't quite do. But being Canadian helps to understand America, and point out the absurdities it stands for. Laxer's book serves to list those characteristics that Canadians know are distinctly American, such as its self-absorption, its in-your-face Christianity, its gun culture, and its do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do approach to foreign policy.

Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, given Laxer's political leanings) the book does not touch on solutions, but it does stimulate thought. This is a useful book for introspective Americans, and wary non-Americans.

James Laxer delivers a scathing assessment of the American way of life and the "empire" that has been established. An admitted socialist, Laxer's travels in America for this book carried a specific agenda, which makes his thesis of being a modern De Tocqueville fall short. While he wrote about his disconnected travels from a series of years in this country, his writing was very cohesively wrapped around one simple theme: the U.S. is turning into a glutton wasteland of obesity, greed and delusion. That and the right wing is to blame for everything.

I give this book such a high review because Laxer does a superb job shining the light on the inconsistencies in America's history compared to its ideals of freedom. Being the lone "superpower" in the world, Americans have grown accustomed to outsiders attacking our way of life. I found Laxer's assessment on most social issues, including the rampant obesity and the lust for money, to be on target.

Had Laxer not had an agenda, he would have talked to a few people like me, whose goals are simply to find meaningful work, raise a family and live in quiet solitude. Money is large amounts does not appeal to me. Stuff, I can do without. America is still made up of millions like me, and they are of every color and religion.

I am with Laxer on the inability of many in this country to see this growing American empire. And I believe Laxer would cringe to know that people even as right as Pat Buchanan agree the rampant U.S. involvement militarily all over the world needs to re-thought. I'm sure the two would disagree on the solutions.

All in all, Laxer makes some direct hits, but I still believe I would want to live nowhere else.

I found this book interesting because it provides insight into how others might view the United States. Granted, it's only one person's observations, but he has some facts to back up his ideas. A lot of his experiences are just anecdotal. He seems to lean to the left and this comes out in his observations. This book suffers from a little bad luck. It was published right before 9/11. So, some of his observations are dated.

Overall, I thought it was a decent read.

...ultimately alienating. I understand that the author leans to the left, but I as a conservative read many, many works from liberal authors...and none leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. It's his right to write as he pleases, but in the future I will steer clear of his stuff.