Subtitle: How to Understand Crazy American Culture, People, Government, Business, Language and More
By Lance Johnson
Author's Web Site
Amazon Paperback: http://Amzn.to/ForeignersAmericaUS
Reviewed by Leora Skolkin Smith originally for Amazon
As the daughter of a foreign-born mother who had to struggle to assimilate into American culture, reading Lance Johnson's book was an occasion for me to rejoice. Literate but accessible and undidactic, it defines American icons and expressions while providing brass tacks definitions and down-to-earth suggestions.
It's sometimes hard for Americans to realize that our culture needs to be demystified and made available to others without stress and/or giving them a feeling of remaining a perpetual outsider. Lance Johnson invites everyone to enjoy and penetrate some of the unique American mysteries we take for granted. A spectacular, important book and a toolbox full of relevant resources for all.
As the daughter of a foreign-born mother who had to struggle to assimilate into American culture, reading Lance Johnson's book was an occasion for me to rejoice. Literate but accessible and undidactic, it defines American icons and expressions while providing brass tacks definitions and down-to-earth suggestions.
It's sometimes hard for Americans to realize that our culture needs to be demystified and made available to others without stress and/or giving them a feeling of remaining a perpetual outsider. Lance Johnson invites everyone to enjoy and penetrate some of the unique American mysteries we take for granted. A spectacular, important book and a toolbox full of relevant resources for all.
About the Reviewer:
Leora Skolkin-Smith’s first published novel,
EDGES was edited and published by the late Grace Paley for Ms. Paley's own
imprint at Glad Day books. EDGES was nominated for the 2006 PEN/Faulkner Award
by Grace Paley. Recently, her novels were selected by Princeton University as
part of a series on women writers whose background is from the Middle East and
whose work is personal, reflecting the current diaspora. The Princeton Series
in funded by The National Endowment of the Humanities and called: "The
Fertile Crescent Moon Series."
THE
FRAGILE MISTRESS, a feature film based on EDGES, is currently in
pre-production, scheduled to begin shooting on location in Jerusalem, Jordan,
and New York, produced by Triboro Pictures, directed by Michael Gunther. http://www.thefragilemistress.com
Articles
by Leora Skolkin-Smith have appeared in The Washington Post, Psychology Today,
The National Book Critic’s Circle, “Critical Mass”, “Readysteadybook.com”, the
Quarterly Review and others. Learn more about her at http://leoraskolkinsmith.com
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