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William J. Lederer

The Ugly American Paperback – January 17, 1999

by Eugene Burdick (Author), William J. Lederer (Author)

407 ratings

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The multi-million-copy bestseller that coined the phrase for tragic American blunders abroad.

In the episode that lends the book its title, the "ugly American" is Homer Atkins, a plain and plain-spoken man, who has been sent by the U.S. government to advise the Southeast Asian country of Sarkhan on engineering projects. When Atkins finds badly misplaced priorities and bluntly challenges the entrenched interests, he lays bare a foreign policy gone dangerously wrong.

First published in 1958, The Ugly American became a runaway national bestseller for its slashing exposé of American arrogance, incompetence, and corruption in Southeast Asia. In linked stories and vignettes, the book uses gripping storytelling to draw a devastating picture of how the United States was losing the struggle with Communism in Asia.

Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date

January 17, 1999
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches
ISBN-10

0393318672
ISBN-13

978-0393318678
Lexile measure

960
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A very important bombshell."
― New York Herald Tribune

"Not only important but consistently entertaining."
― New York Times

"Slashing.... Draw[s] the reader into a vital subject rarely treated by fiction."
― Time

"[A] powerful and absorbing indictment.... Should be required reading in Washington and elsewhere."
― Kirkus Reviews

"To make use of the truth, unbelievable truth... William J. Lederer and Eugene Burdick wrote this devastating indictment of American policy [in Southeast Asia] as fiction. But any correspondent who has been any length of time in the locale of the story will recognize its veracity."
― Robert Trumbull, New York Times Book Review

"A delightfully readable book."
― James A. Michener

"Both enlightening and absorbing reading, with humor and wit."
― Boston Herald

"A powerful, searching book."
― Los Angeles Times

About the Author

Eugene Burdick was a political scientist and author of The Ugly American, Fail-Safe, and other books.

William J. Lederer (1912-2009) was was a former U.S. Navy captain and the co-author of The Ugly American (with Eugene Burdick), The Mirages of Marriage (with Don D. Jackson), and other books.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company (January 17, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393318672
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393318678
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 960
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.5 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #847,253 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #46,388 in Literary Fiction (Books)
- #86,985 in American Literature (Books)

Customer Reviews:
407 ratings

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William J. Lederer

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Customer reviews

5 star		79%
4 star		13%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Makros

eerily prophetic

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2019

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Must read now. Go get this. I know, it is hard to imagine a collection of short stories from the 1950's with the unlikely theme of diplomacy during the first IndoChina war. But most of the stories plots could have happened yesterday in the middle East. Or a decade _after_ the book was written. You will laugh, you will cry, you will want to shout out at the blind injustice of it all. After reading the book, I'm curious about the 1963 movie, but fear it cringeworthy.
Note I said the plots/themes are timeless, But... The writing style and depiction of social structure in America is firmly dated as mid-century. But there is a reason this book has remained in print over the decades. The theme and message are important. For those who have ears to hear.

7 people found this helpful

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kathyd

Required Reading for Diplomats

Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2014

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This book was required reading by Americans in Viet Nam in 1963. The book was important for the diplomatic corps, but it didn’t seem to make a difference in their behavior. I heard people say that Americans just had to be polite, tuck in their shirts, and not get drunk. It had nothing to do with ignorance of Vietnamese culture or history, but the attitude had everything to do with American culture and courtesy.

I loved the book and hated the movie. The major parts of the book fall away under the star power of Marlon Brando who didn’t do a very good acting job.

The Ugly American is just as important now as it was decades ago. We continue to make the same diplomatic and cultural mistakes. How can we justify the invasion of the sovereign state of Iraq, destroy their country, vilify their religion and culture, then proudly proclaim that Operation Iraqi Freedom is over. Wonder what Lederer and Burdick would think of American world-wide policies today.

28 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

An excellent read, and a remarkable learning experience

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2016

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Undoubtedly, the most respectable and enjoyable book I have ever read. The book is easy to read through the use of capturing anecdotes and entertaining vignettes, while serving to demonstrate effective and meaningful messages. This book should be required reading for any individual who will be working or serving in any capacity which involves them representing the United States in a foreign context, or any individual who wants to better understand how we can improve our behavior abroad. This book is truly excellent, and just reading it and learning from it could be considered "a memorable experience." The reader becomes aware of what makes Americans ugly, and develop a nuance for how to effectively and diplomatically engage the world around us. Great read.

10 people found this helpful

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Dee Vee

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2016

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Having lived in SE Asia as the wife of a senior military officer, I found this book very interesting. I was not at all surprised by its content. I am pleased that the powers that be did take heed to some of the issues offered up in the book. Before my husband served overseas he attended the Military Language Institute where he learned to read, write and speak the language of the country of which he was assigned. He was also taught the customs, as was I. I could offer so much about why I think this is one of the most interesting and relevant books today. It should be required reading for every American. It is timeless.

5 people found this helpful

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Linda Jacobs

What America was doing wrong in Foreign Policy.

Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2016

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While fiction, this work is based on real-life examples of both the very good and the very bad sort of Americans which were working in Asia in the foreign services in the late 1950's. The authors hoped to motivate change in the policies of Americans overseas which could have drastically changed the outcome of the Viet Nam conflict. Unfortunately no one seemed to pay attention. Reading these thoughts in the second decade of the 2000's is particularly frustrating. We were told what to do and how to change and chose to ignore the advice. I fear that American influence will be forever tainted until real changes along the lines of the authors' suggestions can be made.

6 people found this helpful

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Princess Tigerlily

one of the best books I have ever read

Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2014

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Honestly, one of the best books I have ever read. It should be required reading for any student of political science, particularly for those wishing to work in the US State Dept.

Having lived abroad for many, many years, it breaks my heart to say that the American government not only makes the exact same mistakes it was making in1958 (when this book was published), but that the situation is actually worse today than in the 1950s! Reading this book will hopefully provide relevant insight to the greater public as to how to turn around the US State Dept/ foreign service and regain our footing on the international stage. As it stands, our institutional arrogance and stupidity have made the US a laughingstock on the world stage.

8 people found this helpful

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Sean

A must read for all Americans

Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2016

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I have spent the last 5 years overseas in the Middle East and Pacific. American mannerism's have not changed in the last half century. We still unfortunately fumble out feeling our way with our hands rather then with our eyes, ears, and mind. This is an essential book to read for those going overseas, currently living overseas, or anyone who desires a basic understand of foreign policy. I will have my subordinates and encourage my superiors to read this book.

4 people found this helpful

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indooroopillykid

A timeless truth filled book, a must read for every American

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2016

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I have read this book before and felt it somewhat disjointed. I understand it better now the timeless truth it reveals in outlAndish efforts to help the rest of the world be more like us. And that is not what we really want. We want really get to know the problems and perspectives of the countries we wish to assist. It is imperative that Americans who work overseas to speak the language of the land just we here wish that those who come will join us in language and community instead of staying in exclusive communities by themselves.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

J.P.V. Hunt

Might be still as true today

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 23, 2020

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A really fascinating book about America’s diplomatic service which may be just as true today.

SMR

Its a good book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2018

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Recomended reading to understand not just USA overseas policy but worldwide.. Nothing has changed and still the same, whether politics or any large institution it is bang on......

Lily AN

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 6, 2018

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Fascinating book

katharina henggeler

THIS is the original book.

Reviewed in Germany on October 10, 2021

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The book is absolutely fantastic. I just wonder why not much has been learned since 1958 when it was first published.

BE AWARE OF ANOTHER BOOK WITH THIS TITLE. THAT IS ABUSIVE. I'M GLAD TO HAVE RETURNED IT TO AMAZON.

Axel Berger

Thank god for the internet

Reviewed in Germany on January 31, 2015

Verified Purchase

Decades ago I spent many hours in the copy shop to be able to give this book to friends, as it was long out of stock. Today it so easy to find and get used copies, I currently have two in stock for the next times when a personal dedicated gift is in order. It is must to read.

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