Customer Reviews

If You've Seen One, You've Seen the Mall: EUROPEANS AND AMERICAN MASS CULTURE

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The Publisher's Weekly review is blatantly inaccurate. I felt that Kroes' thoughts on American culture were the farthest thing from "arrogant". He spends a lot of time criticizing traditionally condescending European views of American culture, and I feel that his own views are quite reasonable. He accepts cultural relativity and does not strike a holier-than-thou pose at all.

That said, I do think that Kroes' attempt to study such a broad topic using such small examples is a bit strained. Also, the first chapter is insufferably intellectual and boring. Nevertheless, Kroes provides an interesting perspective on European views of American culture.

Among all the other books on American culture that were written by Americans, If You've One, by a Dutch scholar, is my favorite one. In contrast to many current studies of America, which concentrate on ethnic groups or gender issues, Kroes examines US culture as a whole. A term that Kroes uses over and over again is "quinessentially American," which he tries to define. He offers some great insight, and more importantly, a perspective that can be very useful. Even though it is written for European audiences, I would recommend this book to Americans as well.