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Sardul Singh Minhas
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The Power of an Atlas: An Immigrant's Tale Kindle Edition

by Sardul Singh Minhas (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 14 ratings
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A rags-to-success story of a poor boy in India who, inspired by an atlas, studied hard, immigrated to the U.S. and made impressive contributions to America.

The memoir tells how a US atlas set in motion an eleven-year-old boy’s dream of one day immigrating to America. Armed with a PhD in engineering from Notre Dame, his career trajectory – marked with one setback - takes him to the upper rungs of corporate America. Despite some run-ins with racist anti-immigrant sentiment in his personal life, he embraces his American identity and the American ideal of democracy.

“If anyone has forgotten the real story of American exceptionalism, The Power of an Atlas will be a marvelous reminder. Sardul Minhas's life between India and America is a tale of aspiration, innovation, commitment, and achievement. It is an inspiringly representative look at what is possible in the United States, and at the spirit that can renew it.” -James Fallows, the American writer and journalist.

SARDUL SINGH MINHAS has published fourteen opinion pieces, in newspapers such as The Washington Examiner, The Orange County Register, and The New Indian Express. He has a doctorate in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame. He lives in Anaheim Hills, California with his wife.
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  1. Print length
    284 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 15, 2022
  4. File size
    2298 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
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  8. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BLJ5QC2J
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atmosphere Press (November 15, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 15, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2298 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 284 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1639886095
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 14 ratings

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Sardul Singh Minhas

Sardul Singh Minhas

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Sardul Singh Minhas was born into a family of farmers and soldiers in Punjab, India. At age eleven he was inspired by an atlas to one day live in America. As a boy he drove tractors and tended to cattle. He was home-schooled until the age of thirteen. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in India and a PhD from the University of Notre Dame, all in chemical engineering. His career has spanned multinational companies in the chemical and pharmaceutical sectors. His last position was vice president of global physical product development, where he ran technical centers in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Poland and oversaw a workforce of over a hundred engineers and scientists. Since his retirement in 2010 he has published fourteen opinion pieces on subjects such as Einstein, global warming, nuclear power, innovation, gun control, gerrymandering, electoral college and the pace of change in India. He lives in Anaheim Hills, California with his wife, Rosemary.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
14 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the memoir delightful, touching, and a good read for anyone who can identify with immigrating to the USA. They also appreciate the author's powerful insight into his personal life and keen sense of history and place.

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ReadabilityInspiration
5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the memoir delightful, meticulously written, and touching. They say it's a good read for anyone who can identify with immigrating to the USA. Readers also mention the prose is fluid and vivid, replete with exacting recollections.

"...The Power of an Atlas” by Sardul Singh Minhas is a meticulously written memoir that inspired the full gamut of my emotions...." Read more

"...This is a good read for anyone who can identify with immigrating to the USA (as all of our families did at one point) and integrating into the..." Read more

"...All in all great read." Read more

"Deftly rendered in a fluid and vivid prose, replete with exacting recollections, this is a gem of a memoir...." Read more

3 customers mention "Inspiration"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspirational and touching. They appreciate the author's powerful insight into his personal life and a keen sense of history and place.

"...Of even more importance he gives us a powerful insight into his personal life...." Read more

"...Sardul's keen sense of history and place--from the farmhouse of his childhood in central Punjab in India where he was homeschooled by his visionary..." Read more

"Inspirational and touching read..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Kevin Howard
5.0 out of 5 stars A Stirring Affirmation of the American Dream
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
Think the American Dream is dead? Think again. The dream so many of us take for granted is alive and well in the hearts of young dreamers living near and far around our world. “The Power of an Atlas” tells the story of a young man who was inspired by the vivid pictures and elaborate details of an American Atlas. Is this really true? Does the promise of America include me? Journey with Sardul Minhas from rural India to South Bend, Indiana to the process design hubs of some of the largest manufacturing firms in the world, and rediscover what America means to a man who dares to dream big.
“The Power of an Atlas” by Sardul Singh Minhas is a meticulously written memoir that inspired the full gamut of my emotions. A must read for anyone in search of their American Dream.
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sberringer
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
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I thoroughly enjoyed Sardul's story. It’s an American story. A story of a man who represents what is great about this country. From poverty and dirt floors in India to a very successful career in the U.S. he takes us on a journey of perseverance and dedication. Through applying himself at numerous universities and hard work in the chemical engineering field he shares the journey of a life that contributes mightily to this mosaic of a country. This is a country built by immigrants and nobody represent that, in the best way possible, more than Sardul.
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Sandy Bigelow
5.0 out of 5 stars The American dream is alive with this immigrant's story
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2023
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Sardul comes through again. From farm to pharmaceutical work. With his family's blessing and his hard work, determination, and perseverance, lead Sardul to study in the USA, start a family and enjoy a good career to provide for his family. Sardul overcame life's hurdles, personally and professionally, to enjoy life in the USA. This is a good read for anyone who can identify with immigrating to the USA (as all of our families did at one point) and integrating into the fabric of a new land, as well as those who still believe in the value of continued immigration to the USA.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Engaging immigrant success
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023
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This eloquent memoir describes a modern American arc from India to Indiana. From the Punjab to the halls of Notre Dame there was success and fulfillment that left me with a sense of optimism for our future.
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Donald Schaller
5.0 out of 5 stars We are a nation of immigrants
Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2022
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In today's world of polarized positions on immigration it's easy to forget we are a NATION of IMMIGRANTS.
Dr. Minhas, in "Power of the Atlas" tells of his success story. Rising from a modest background in India he emigrated to the States for his higher education. He recounts his eminently sucessful career as a top executive in the US chemical and pharmecutical industries.
Of even more importance he gives us a powerful insight into his personal life. His struggles and successes, his ability to overcome predudices and his hope for the future are an inspiration. All in all great read.
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ahmed asif
5.0 out of 5 stars A Gem of a Memoir!
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2022
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Deftly rendered in a fluid and vivid prose, replete with exacting recollections, this is a gem of a memoir. Sardul's keen sense of history and place--from the farmhouse of his childhood in central Punjab in India where he was homeschooled by his visionary father to the academic world of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana where he gets his PhD in Chemical Engineering to the assimilation in American culture--coupled with his superb storytelling skills makes this memoir so inspiring and delightful to read. Sardul's work is an important contribution to SE Asian diasporic literature. A must read!
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Rebecca
5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational and touching read
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2022
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The book is a reminder of how lucky we are to be born in this country and what others must go through to achieve the American dream. Mr. Minhas’ story touched my heart and reminded me not to take my “white privilege” for granted. Good story for high schoolers who take their education for granted.
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Sushil Sarin
5.0 out of 5 stars Experiences of an immigrant to re-establish in a new and different environment
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2023
A significant part of what America is today was built by immigrants who came here with limited resources and had to work hard to achieve the success they were looking for and get accepted. I happen to know Sardul Minhas from our days together while going to college in India. His book, "The Power of an Atlas" describes his background and the experiences he went through to achieve success and satisfaction in his adopted country. The book is well written and makes an enjoyable reading and shows how strong determination and hard work can overcome difficulties and achieve success in your chosen dream and profession.
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Top reviews from other countries

Jean Baneth
5.0 out of 5 stars A book well worth reading.
Reviewed in France on December 23, 2022
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His father was an enlisted man in the imperial Indian Army. He was born in a village and lived in a house without electricity, running water or toilet facilities. His father worked his way all the way up to Captain before retiring from the army of independent India. He went on to brilliant studies at the Indian Institute of Technology.

The atlas of the United States he received from his father when a boy had inspired in him the dream of America. He achieved his dream, earned a doctorate at Notre Dame University and went on to marriage, citizenship and a highly successful career.

Minhas has lived this life and is inured to its exceptionalism. But for the reader, particularly a reader who knows a little about rural India, the probability of that small boy ending up with this story is small indeed. The probability of the son of that simple soldier in the colonial Indian Army living such a life is mind-bogglingly low. And yet they achieved it…

The very exceptionalism of that path through life makes the story well worth reading. But the book also gives glimpses of the world around the author –around all of us – and of important issues. I particularly valued the discussion of the role of immigrants into the United States, and of attitudes and legislation concerning them. Coming from someone who so obviously made a great contribution to the country of his choice, these reflections give much food for thought.
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