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A review by anirtak
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki
5.0
Four and a half stars. Docked half a star because at times all his references to The Tempest can be a bit too much, not to mention the insertions of songs, poems, etc. While it adds to the realism of the events (in that people are making poetry about any particular event), sometimes the placement in the text distracts the readers from the events instead of pulling them in.
Apart from that, I think this is an excellent book on the history of multicultural America. I've read a few US History books (most of them for school), and I don't think I've known as much about what the different cultural groups have experienced before and after arriving to the United States--for example, the journey of the Russian Jews, or the difficulties of Irish immigrants. Because the text focuses on the so-called minorities, I think this is good for supplementing what people know about the US history, but not entirely good for replacing US History textbooks. There's still a long way to go before a true multicultural US History book deviating from the very narrow Master Narrative will be published, but until then, this will do.
It's a very easy read, although the length can be a bit daunting at times. Highly recommended.
Apart from that, I think this is an excellent book on the history of multicultural America. I've read a few US History books (most of them for school), and I don't think I've known as much about what the different cultural groups have experienced before and after arriving to the United States--for example, the journey of the Russian Jews, or the difficulties of Irish immigrants. Because the text focuses on the so-called minorities, I think this is good for supplementing what people know about the US history, but not entirely good for replacing US History textbooks. There's still a long way to go before a true multicultural US History book deviating from the very narrow Master Narrative will be published, but until then, this will do.
It's a very easy read, although the length can be a bit daunting at times. Highly recommended.