My America: What My Country Means to Me, by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Hugh Downs (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Lisa Drew Books | Publication Date: September 3, 2002

"Some of these essays are powerful and poetic. Some seem to reflect a stunned condition on the part of the contributor. But all of them share a newborn or reawakened feeling about the country we live in...Some are personal narratives that explain and justify the patriotism of the writer. Some examine and praise the values that make the country great."

-- Hugh Downs, from the Introduction

What is the essence of America? In this fascinating new collection inspired by one of our most trusted and beloved commentators, 150 diverse Americans express in their own words what America means to them.

My America includes candid insights from such well-known personalities as Barbara Walters, former president George Bush, Dave Brubeck, Willard Scott, Helen Thomas, Donald Trump, Phyllis Diller, Mike Wallace, John Glenn, and Patricia Neal, as well as remarks by lesser-known citizens from all over the country. These frank and thought-provoking observations from Americans of every age, race, religion, and social position compellingly illustrate the American mosaic and offer a glimpse into the subconscious mind of this unique and wonderful nation. My America is a timely collection for anyone who wants to reflect on America's past or celebrate its future.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The majority of these brief reflections-many from such musicians, politicians, actors and celebrities as Walter Cronkite, Jesse Ventura and Maya Angelou-speak in often idealistic generalizations about freedom, diversity, opportunity and justice-what America is in principle though not always in practice. Some tell personal stories of how immigrant parents came to America to offer their children a brighter future. Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney, praises the First Amendment to the Constitution; thriller author Stephen Coonts writes of the right to bear arms and finds that "the symbol of all that is American is our freedom to fly"; singer Al Martino tells of his reverence for the flag; Donald Trump praises America's intelligence and bravery. Ultimately, what is left out of these reflections gathered by beloved television commentator and author Downs (Yours Truly Hugh Downs, etc.) is the full scope that the "all walks of life" of the subtitle promises. There is one New York City nurse and one schoolteacher and one firefighter; however, the other contributors are on the top rung of the status ladder: not just businessmen but CEOs, not just scientists but Nobel Prize winners. This collection could have been more thought-provoking had it included more of the diversity the contributors talk about. Readers may wonder where the voices of Barbara Ehrenreich's nickel and dimed are and what America might mean to them.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Actors, authors, academicians, artists, astronauts, and athletes are among those who offer these brief accounts. Other contributors are cartoonists, comedians, columnists, counselors, coaches, clergy, entertainers, everyday workers, and elected officials, including the President's father and brother. They are an alliterative and illustrious list of mostly males and many second-generation Americans with a special appreciation of citizenship. The essayists are identified by name and vocation; they express their provocative thoughts with anecdotes, platitudes, dogma, or black-and-white cartoons. The name recognition and brevity will attract readers, but the real draw is the subject matter. YAs will be able to sort through or confirm their feelings about patriotism, purpose, and survival. If they lend an ear to the words of their fellow and more-experienced countrymen, conversations may ensue with other YAs, teachers, or parents, bringing a sense of historical ownership within reach.
Karen Sokol, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (September 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743240898
• ISBN-13: 978-0743240895
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 5.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,865,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars My America by Hugh Downs, October 31, 2002

By 

Tai-Hyung Kwon (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My America: What My Country Means to Me, by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life (Hardcover)

My America by Hugh Downs

My America by Hugh Downs is a collection of 150 brief, one page or so on the average, comments on 'what America means to me.' Selected by invitation, these individuals express their patriotic feelings with stories or straightforward editorial comments. I have found nothing surprising. If you ask a handful of elite individuals who have already succeeded in their chosen profession in any country, you will find similar outburst of patriotic feelings.

Missing in this book are the views and feelings of ordinary citizens. In my opinion America is a great country for ordinary people-like a man from India who came to this country because he knew this is where even poor people are fat, have television sets in the living room, microwave ovens in the kitchen and cars in the driveway, if not in the garage.

Those who have made in any society will feel good about themselves and the society, but what about those who have not yet made? If Mr. Downs included the voices of another 150 ordinary citizens in his book, the book would have been much better reading.

Of the 150 comments, the one story that touched me most deeply was the one by Pete Hamil, a journalist, an author and a descendant of an Irish immigrant. When he was a boy, he witnessed in the dark of the night his father weeping from physical pain. The stump of his ruined leg was covered with blisters caused by the heat wave. And yet, in the morning, his father went to work in the factory where there were concrete floors but no air-conditioning. He went to work because he was an American allowed to work without being asked about his religion, his family history, or his political beliefs.

He writes, "Some Americans might be stirred into love of country by the sight of B-52 vapor trails. I prefer the image of a young Mexican-American woman in cap and gown, surrounded by weeping parents and aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters, walking into an early summer afternoon, clutching a diploma. In that moment, she honors her family. She honors mine too, and all those where a parent once wept in the dark. Above all, she honors America."

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars two stars is being nice., January 14, 2005

By 

samofborg "java architect nut" (Rigby, ID USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My America: What My Country Means to Me, by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life (Hardcover)

It wasn't as impactful as I thought it would be. Some of the people that gave comments gave some great comments and others, well, other gave comments. The selection of people was a good cross section but it didn't have meaning to it. I was looking for more in depth commentary. Maybe what I was looking for should have been said between each of the comments in the book. It might have looked like hugh just collected a bunch of email and old letters and thrown them together.