Description
Global Perspectives on the United States is a collection of compelling essays that provides in-depth analyses of the core characteristics of the United States, crucial historical events, US policies and programs, and cultural phenomena such as religion and pop culture. Sidebars and illustrations illuminate the discussion, bringing in original text from influential writers, historic speeches and treaties, and intriguing firsthand, journalistic accounts of personal experience—underscoring the importance of examining the United States through the eyes of people around the world. In hardcover, it is Volume 3: Issues and Ideas Shaping International Relations in the 3-volume set that also includes Volumes 1 & 2: A Nation By Nation Survey. The paperback edition includes all chapters in Volume 3 in a convenient, inexpensive edition.
A word of caution–US citizens should prepare to be both revered and insulted [when reading this book]. Not recommended reading for thin-skinned patriots; however, a great resource for academic, public, and high-school libraries. —Booklist
The crowd stands, the drums roll, and the symphony or band begins our national anthem. We rise in our patriotic duty and our thumping hearts swell as the anthem ends. As Americans we listen, perhaps sing, but most importantly, remember our citizenship is a valued treasure and we all should be most thankful for our freedoms. We generally forget the rest of the world does not have this luxury. What does the rest of the world think about our freedoms and The United States of America? Berkshire Publishing embarked on a mammoth project to determine the world’s opinion of the United States. I had the privilege to speak with publishers Karen Christensen and David Levinson at the Charleston Conference about Global Perspectives. Our conversation included politics, 9/11, our travels abroad, and our experiences at home. This quickly verified the need for this resource. Berkshire enlisted experts undertaking these complex views and opinions. The publisher also gathered comments from their LoveUSHateUS.com Web site, which provides wonderful sidebars to this multifaceted topic. The articles, divided by nations and regions, include statistics, historical relations, and recent influences along with current events shaping perceptions of the United States. While not all opinions give the United States glowing reviews, collecting all the views into one source makes Global Perspectives a must read for a complete survey. This reference work should be in all academic, public, and high school libraries.–Dr. William R. Taylor, MLS, Ingram Book Company
Choice: February 2008 –
The editors have made an exceptional effort to make subjects easy to find…. A valuable resource for analysts looking for background information; upper-level undergraduate and beginning graduate students looking for issues on which to conduct research; and general users trying to understand the US’s place in the world. Summing up: Recommended. Academic and public libraries.