Customer Reviews:
Changing China.......2007-07-30
The book is good and is full of factual info but its quickly becoming outdated when dealing with the younger Chinese people.
Very helpful but some things have changed... .......2006-07-30
Having just taught in two major Chinese universities, I found this book very helpful. But based on my conversations with numbers of students (at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate level), in today's competitive China some things appear to have changed. E.g. granted the diversity of a vast country like China, in those cities that have been more impacted by Western consumer culture there is much more individualism especially among youth. At the more prestiguous universities intense competition means that fewer students are as willing to assist their colleagues as their more traditional counerparts might have once been. Highly recommended (even for tourists) but do be aware of the increasing impact of Western culture.
Encountering the Chinese : A guide for Americans.......2006-03-24
I found this book interesting however, if you plan to just visit China and not live there it is probably not that helpful. If you are an American and do plan to live there for some period of time it would probably be quite helpful.
This book is worth the encounter.......2005-10-11
This book is primarily directed at Americans involved with China but much of what it refers to is also valid for other English speaking westerners. In fact, it is the best book I have read in terms of explaining Chinese culture as x, y, z. It is said that everything you hear about China is true, but not necessarily where you are. This book includes valuable information that is true in most locations in China, not only the coastal cities, nor just Beijing, nor only in academic circles. The book is broken into two sections. The first half of the book contains general culture information about Chinese people which should be applicable to Chinese in general, no matter where they live in the world. The second half contains information specific to Mainland China and situations you may find yourself in there.
A poignant example would be the fact that when Chinese people are visiting you and decide it is time to leave they do just that, leave. There is no extended time of talk after an initial, "I need to go soon," rather they just stand up and say goodbye. This surprised me the first time it happened with some students but I quickly became used to it. I have read other books which recommend against reading books like this because they will only cause more harm than good. However, almost everything in this book was relevant to my time in China and if I had read it before I went my learning curve would have been shallower.
I would hope that they will come out with a third edition of this valuable book. A few items are dated and China is changing so rapidly that some details are sure to be very different in the future.
an experience leading to a Must read and better understandin.......2005-04-13
I have just finished the book, twice; Encountering the Chinese; A Guide for Americans. by Hu Wenzhong & Cornelius L. Grove.
This is a great book for help in making cross cultural or intercultural communication between Chinese and Americans more rewarding while trying to avoid abrasiveness regarding deep fundamental differences.
Before reading this book I did not know that Chinese culture is one of collectivism, I had thought that everyone is individulistic in the world, I had never known anything different. It was hard for me to understand Chinese life until I got some help from these two authors. It explained many of my questions and concerns for why Chinese do some of the things they do and act in such ways in response to things I do. Why i was treated the way I was, for the way I acted, which I had no idea, was only a response of a disliking of my fundamental character and individualistic personality, one of American born and raised in the Heartland U.S.A..
It showed me the reason, for alot of my confusion and why I received the response I did for my actions.
I acted like an individual and showed anger, which I read to the Chinese are two of the worst ways to act. This difference in fundamentals between myself and the Chinese culture may have led to the misunderstanding and consequential accusations, and or just the overall way of bringing anxiety and frustrations to the surface in my life here in China.
I recommend this book to anyone who would like to know the difference between collectivism and individualism, the predominate theory or doctrines of China & The United States, for better relations between these two ways of thinking for more harmony on both sides for neither one is right or wrong for without education the other has no idea of the inherited fundamental differences each have.
It has helped me see the Chinese way of thinking and acting in response to my way of thinking and acting in my daily life, something that rarely do Americans need to or have to think about. I will forever before instinctly acting on my own individualistically trained nature to see how such acts would be seen from the perspective of one of collectivistic. Like I would never complain aloud in anger about poor pay, nor openly criticize a Chinese person, nor think only of the betterment of myself in matters of personal likes and dislikes. I would also refrain from wearing expensive, name brand, clothing while in the presence of less educated and fashion sensitive people who may feel I am just a selfish American taking advantage of being able to travel the world freely as I my country has given to its citizens. The sometimes I really feel that it is not about cultural differences but something we all have subltely within us, something very known which we all can recognize; jealousy, envy, concite, revenge, hate, and many others that if one is not careful, and educated can appear very similiar to the other as a possible excuse as to say that we have named it a fundamental difference in cultural perspective one of the friction between individualism and collectivism.
>> also if you don't have an idea yet why this book is so important>> a letter to a friend, referring this book and what I had learned from it>
Dear Professor xxxx,
I am not quite sure how to thank you and Prof.xxxx, except to acquire the utmost from this gracious learning opportunity.
Before receiving your email, I had just finished one of the required readings, Encountering the Chinese; A Guide for Americans. By Hu & Grove
How true it really is, I am probably not the first nor the last to say that, but wow I was both amazed and glad that I had read it, to confirm what I had questioned repeatedly and already dealt with and deal with every day. True to it that Americans are fundamentally individualistic, I at least understand that as I was raised by my hard working, blue collar, U.S. Veteran and father, to be self sufficient and self promoting in work and daily affairs, that my survival muchly depended on myself, and that to act in way to promote myself and my priorities is what will make success for myself and family. To depend on another was and is looked down upon, as an American, as one needs to become a compitant providor both to society and his/her family. Such a phrase for this I remember being told as I was growing up, "you need to make a life for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you."
On the other hand, or at the other end of the "continuum," the orientation of the Chinese, collectivism.
Like I had said before, my wife is Chinese, though we are both young and she is somewhat even younger then myself, I have indeed and will continue to make observations on this fundamental orientation in the difference between individualism and collectivism, which if not observed and prepared for will indeed as I have experienced many times, surely cause faux pas, conflicts, and downright hard to explain your way out of -misunderstandings, for it is hard to teach that we both are right from our own orientation, though each of us find from our own conditioning and orientation that the other is wrong. In the moment of such misunderstanding it is not common and hard to say, "ohh, our conflict is one which stems from fundamental differences," instead it is best to be informed beforehand, to be eguipped, and that is exactly why I feel that this course and this book of which is a required text, is of very high importance and benfit.
I am indebt to you for allowing me to expand my knowledge, not only academically but also the practical knowledge that will allow for me to put into practice, at once within my immediate family and that of my surroundings.
Thanks,
-An American Citizen (born & raised on U.S. soil)
-Married interculturally w/ a Chinese Citizen born and raised in one of the two systems one country,-HK
-living with an all Chinese Family, except myself
Book Description
Third Culture Kids speaks to the challenges and rewards of a multicultural childhood; the joy of discovery and heartbreaking loss, its effect on maturing and personal identity, and the difficulty in transitioning home.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful material.......2007-10-11
While the slant on this book is very American; it is a useful tool for people wanting to know about the reality of the third culture world. The author does attempt to include an international perspective. A good start for anyone researching this topic for the first time or experiencing this cultural phenomenon themselves. Worth the investment.
"Must read" foranyone living outside your home Nation!.......2007-04-08
If you are raising children outside your home Nation, this book will help you understand and assist your children with their unique experiences living in the invisible "third" culture. If you or your spouse grew up in a Country foreign to their parents, this book may help illuminate emotions and behaviors that never quite made sense before (especially from the perspective of those of us who always lived in the same house!). This book is in english, but it is not about Americans only, but anyone from one Nation who spend several years or more of childhood in a second Nation. Should be a staple in every military, ambassadorial, or mission complex library!
it's an autobiography for tcks.......2007-03-23
I am a tck and I have met Mrs. Van Reken. She is brilliant, and her book helped me through many of my adolescent identity struggles. I have passed it along to friends and parents of tcks and everyone seems to agree that it is both interesting, thought-provoking, and helpful.
The missing link........2007-02-11
If you grew up in another country and have always felt a as though something is missing in your life, this book holds answers.
Putting it into words........2007-02-08
I recently found out about this book and the term TCK. As an American who spent the majority of the first ten years of my life growing up in Scotland, it felt so comforting to find out that there is a whole community of people out there like me, and that our common experiences have a name. Also, as someone who never thought I'd read another "textbook" after graduating college, this book has definitely changed my mind. It's a great balance of expert language and personal story, perfect for TCKs or ATCKs just discovering who they are, non TCKs who share their lives with TCKs, parents of TCKs, and any educator or professional in an international setting. I consider this book to be the definitive publication on my life experience, and those like me.
Book Description
The decision to become a United States citizen is one of the most important choices you can ever make. Before you can become a U.S. citizen, however, you first must be a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. For this reason, before you begin the process, you need to know what you want to achieve – legal immigration or naturalization – and if you can expect to qualify for it.
U.S. Citizenship For Dummies will help you get through this often confusing process, from determining how best to qualify to live permanently in the United States to gaining a green card and then citizenship. This reference guide is for anyone who
- Is interested in living permanently in the U.S.
- Is a friend or relative of someone who wishes to live permanently in the U.S.
- Wants to become a naturalized citizen
- Has no legal background or any familiarity with U.S. immigration
This book helps you discover the important requirements you need to meet and offers tips and insights into dealing with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS). You also get to know other government agencies that you’ll work with while attempting to immigrate to the U.S. or become a citizen. U.S. Citizenship For Dummies covers the following topics and more:
- Clear information on the immigration process
- Up-to-date information on various application forms
- The rights of legal aliens
- Recent changes in immigration laws
- Review of English and Civics tests
- Pointers on the interview process
- Survey of U.S. history, government, and culture
- Coverage on visas and green cards
- Troubleshooting immigration problems
Becoming a U.S. citizen carries important duties and responsibilities as well as rights, rewards, and privileges. Before you make the decision to pursue U.S. citizenship, you need to be aware of what you stand to lose and what you stand to gain; you also need to be sure you’re ready to fulfill all the obligations of a good citizen. U.S. Citizenship For Dummies will help you understand all that it means to become a citizen of the United States of America.
Customer Reviews:
Good book but not needed.......2007-05-16
I read this book for US citizenship. I found it very lucid and to the point. If you are interested in knowing US history in a concise manner this book will not dissappoint you. However if you intend to read this book just for passing US citizenship exam then the flashcards on the website of USDOJ are enough and I don't recall anybody being asked any other question apart from them. Goodluck!
US Citizenship for Dummies, by Cheri Sicard.......2007-04-10
Not as thorough as I'd hoped. I've had to seek other references as well (Bill of Rights, Constitution, Representatives, application for citizenship--N400).
Would have 5 stars if it were not outdated.......2006-07-27
This book is very good and very agreeable to read and learn the topics. Simple plain English and fun to read.
Took one star out because the edition I received is 3 years old.
Nonetheless, a very good book.
Just passed the Citizenship interview and test, and frankly I think I would have succeeded with only the flash cards I downloaded from the USCIS site. But then again, maybe I was simply lucky and got an easy test :)
US Citizenship for Dummies.......2005-08-13
My wife ordered this book for herself after checking out several different books that her friends were using. This book is the most complete in terms of the information available under one cover -- it also proves easy to understand and utilize for someone who has learned English as their second language.
Average customer rating:
- Don't waste your money on this out of date book
- Everything A Women Needs in Japan
- My cousin
- Don't move to Japan without it!
- A neccessity for anyone coming here.
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Being A Broad in Japan: Everything a Western woman needs to survive and thrive
Caroline Pover
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Japanland: A Year in Search of Wa
ASIN: 4990079108 |
Book Description
“My encyclopedia, my translator, my phone book, my best friend!” —Western woman living in Japan Being A Broad in Japan includes everything you need to make the most out of your life: case studies of Western women working in almost 50 different types of jobs; anecdotes from many of the 200 Western women interviewed; profiles of 23 women's organisations; essential Japanese words and phrases; and indispensable resource sections listing telephone numbers and Websites for English-speaking housing agencies, banks, doctors, dentists, gynaecologists, therapists, lawyers, maternity classes, day care centres, employment agencies, labour unions, graduate schools, and MORE. An essential book for any Western woman living in Japan.
Read about: • Coping with culture shock. • Finding clothes and shoes that fit. • Avoiding hair disasters. • Cooking Japanese food. • Telling a chikan where to go. • Dating and the singles scene. • Organising contraception. • Getting married and divorced. • Adopting a baby. • Educating your child. • Finding a job. • Teaching gender studies in the English-language classroom. • Coping with reverse culture shock when you leave Japan.
Customer Reviews:
Don't waste your money on this out of date book.......2007-09-22
This book is embarrassingly out of date. The phone numbers, businesses and organizations are either no longer in use, no longer in existence, or no longer relevant. There are countless other ways to find up-to-date information. I'm sure it was useful when it was first produced, but selling this basically useless book to people now is irresponsible and dishonest, and buying it is a waste of your time and money.
Everything A Women Needs in Japan.......2005-04-02
For western women resident in Japan, this is the bible, the encyclopedia, and the Hold Grail all rolled in one. In spite of a somewhat flippant-but nevertheless clever-title, Being A Broad in Japan covers all the details women will have when living in Japan. It is comprehensive on, among other topics, survival (emergencies, finance, hair, etc.), home, health, relationships, becoming a mother, jobs and the workplace, Japanese language, and leaving Japan.
However, this guide is much more than a list or a yellow pages-though it is both of those. It is interspersed with quotes and anecdotes from the lives of many women who have struggled with some aspect of living in Japan. In the section on relationships, one woman voices the commonly heard refrain about western men in Japan: "Foreign guys are a big disappointment here. Mostly, they aren't interested in foreign women. Also, I find that many of them, after getting so much attention in Japan, start thinking they are really great." Another women touches on the loneliness many feel, in particular for lesbians: "If I were in New York, not only would I have more women to choose from for potential friendship, I would also have a developed circle of friends to support me. I have not been on my own in 18 about years-and the loneliness, coupled with the foreign land, has been profound..."
There is much advice, many a telephone number, basic Japanese language support, and much more. Indispensable for both those coming and for those still struggling with some aspect or another of Japan.
My cousin.......2004-09-25
Caroline Pover is my cousin. She is very smart. Thank you for reading her book.
Don't move to Japan without it!.......2002-07-02
This is the only book I have seen addressing women's issues in Japan. It specifically deals with the challenges Western women face when they live in Japan. It is quite thorough and well-written. The author and her work are very accessible and I would highly recommend this reference to any female planning a relocation. The book is not written for casual vacationers, but can provide useful insights into daily living, if you are curious.
A neccessity for anyone coming here........2001-09-25
An excellent book which gives you a lot of information on aspects of daily life in Japan. And although it is aimed at women, it is totally relevant to men. I wish it had been available before I came here.
Book Description
If your dreams of career success include jobs in Prague or Munich, if you want to learn Mandarin while living in China, or if your travel plans always require a passport, then THE GLOBAL CITIZEN is for you. Written by Monster.com's former international career mentor, Elizabeth Kruempelmann, THE GLOBAL CITIZEN is an international life and career planner that walks you through the ins and outs of working, studying, volunteering, or living in a foreign country. Thought-provoking assessments will get you started on your global path, the interactive planner will keep you on track, and extensive resources will widen your possibilities. With tips for researching and funding your adventure, secrets to adjusting to life abroad, and hints for making the most of your experiences when (or if!) you return, THE GLOBAL CITIZEN presents a new approach to life planning no citizen of the world should be without.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding Resource.......2006-01-30
"The Global Citizen" is a MUST READ for anyone seeking to establish an international lifestyle. I especially liked the sections that allowed real people who've moved abroad the opportunity to write about their experiences. These "journal entries" gave me a lot of inspiration. The book is loaded with program information for study, voluteering and work abroad. There is a chapter on financing your journeys which offers information about scholarships and grants that I didn't even know existed! I highly recommend "The Global Citizen" for anyone serious about going abroad short-term or long-term.
Good introductory value, poor on details.......2004-09-11
If you are under 20, not sure what to do with your life and contemplating about how cool it is to travel to Europe and save the rain forests - this book is perfect for you (even better if you want to save rain forests in Europe). Then, if you are not from US, don't have kickass amount of money to spend or know exactly what you want - bypass this title.
The Global Citizen offers a lot of ways for an American to go abroad; if you live elsewhere, only 20% of all the suggestions are relevant to you. Of these 20%, most require significant investment. What's more important, neither of these ways is described in detail.
Large sections of this book are dedicated to the fine art of proving that 2 and 2 equals 4. For example, the author dedicates 2 or 3 pages to explanation why it pays to know languages others than English.
On the other hand, little to no useful tips are given on most important subjects, like convincing the foreign employer to hire you, or listing places with high expat concentrations, etc. Most of the work abroad opportunities are standard English teaching stuff - I don't need to buy a book to tell me about it, really.
The book is full of howlers. Page 199: 450 - 2550 British pounds are translated as 310 - 1767 US dollars (neat, huh?). Page 88: Arctic Odysseys provides high quality travel experiences in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, Siberia and China (someone please find Arctic China for me). Page 213: the author discovers a new country: Moldova-Ukraine. And this is just a small part.
Again, good enough as introduction, many ideas, very low on details.
Inspirational Book!.......2004-05-17
This book is wonderful and I would recommend it to anyone! The author writes on a personal level like she is talking to you and it is also written from a emotional level so it is easy to understand. This book gets you excited about all the possibilities and the author explains any fears you may have and how you can get over them and overall she gets the word across to never give up! She also gives e-mail adresses from other people who have experience travel. This is a great book, everyone can benefit from this.
Excellent Book!.......2004-02-25
The Global Citizen is an excellent book for anyone thinking of doing anything abroad! It covers a wide range of topics, from studying to volunteering abroad. The author provides practical information on how to identify your goal, approach it and then directs the reader on where to find more information on each individual topic. This book is very stimulating and most certainly motivating! A great buy!
the ONLY career guide for adventure seekers.......2003-05-06
The "Global Citizen" is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to travel or work abroad. Most importantly for me, this book has a wealth of information on careers abroad that I had not thought of before. Most career guides are so narrow in scope that I rarely find much use in them because they are so "8-5" in nature.
The other cool thing about this book is that it's full of websites with info. on every aspect of living, working, or volunteering abroad.
I love the personal stories in the section "A Global Citizen's Perspective" because, as a traveler, you can really connect to the experience of the author and other people who have done what you want to do.
If you are looking for a a life changing adventure, then travel abroad. If you want to stay abroad, then get this book!!
Book Description
India Abroad analyzes the development of Indian diasporas in the United States and England from 1947, the year of Indian independence, to the present. Across different spheres of culture--festivals, entrepreneurial enclaves, fiction, autobiography, newspapers, music, and film--migrants have created India as a way to negotiate life in the multicultural United States and Britain. Sandhya Shukla considers how Indian diaspora has become a contact zone for various formations of identity and discourses of nation. She suggests that carefully reading the production of a diasporic sensibility, one that is not simply an outgrowth of the nation-state, helps us to conceive of multiple imaginaries, of America, England, and India, as articulated to one another. Both the connections and disconnections among peoples who see themselves as in some way Indian are brought into sharp focus by this comparativist approach.
This book provides a unique combination of rich ethnographic work and textual readings to illuminate the theoretical concerns central to the growing fields of diaspora studies and transnational cultural studies. Shukla argues that the multi-sitedness of diaspora compels a rethinking of time and space in anthropology, as well as in other disciplines. Necessarily, the standpoint of global belonging and citizenship makes the boundaries of the "America" in American studies a good deal more porous. And in dialogue with South Asian studies and Asian American studies, this book situates postcolonial Indian subjectivity within migrants' transnational recastings of the meanings of race and ethnicity. Interweaving conceptual and material understandings of diaspora, India Abroad finds that in constructed Indias, we can see the contradictions of identity and nation that are central to the globalized condition in which all peoples, displaced and otherwise, live.
Customer Reviews:
making contact readings from home and abroad.......2004-02-13
This book is good for college freshman to study English.
Articles are devided by each topic, so it is help to analyse them. And condition is good.
Book Description
The Chinese are fond of using four-character phrases, known as cheng yu, to improve their writing style. The Chinese characters on the cover spell out one such idiom: pao zhuan yin yu. Translated literally, this would be "throw bricks attract jade." It can also express the idea of throwing out something of little value to induce a potential business partner to offer something more valuable. The authors of Turning Bricks into Jade, a more idiomatic rendering of pao zhuan yin yu, like to think of each critical incident in this collection as a brick, which, when combined with similar bricks, good sense and effort, can be used to construct relationships more valuable even than jade. A critical incident is a story about cross-cultural conflict or misunderstanding. Many of the forty-one incidents are based on actual events that involved one or more of the authors or their acquaintances. Some are a composite of several authors' experiences. You choose one of four or five possible alternatives that explain the misunderstanding. Following each incident is a discussion of possible solutions, based on the authors' experiences and grounded in current research. Misunderstandings between Chinese and American interactants are complicated; there is almost never just one thing going on. One result of this complexity is that many of the incidents have more than one correct explanation. Forty-one Americans and Chinese with considerable experience in both cultures read the collection of incidents for validation. As you work through the incidents, you may feel the need for a more detailed explanation or definition of certain recurring themes. A section on key theoretical concepts in Chinese-American interactions provides such detail. Included are individualism and collectivism, guanxi (interpersonal connections), hierarchies, gender relations in the workplace, regulations, deference to authority, work incentives and ownership. The Index of Incidents According to Themes and Concepts is also helpful.
Book Description
Words and insights of dozens of literary legends combine with Craig Storti's voice of experience to break new ground in this updated and redesigned edition of the classic that gets to the heart of the cross-cultural experience.
Customer Reviews:
Framework for Cross-Cultural Living.......2005-03-03
Using humorous anecdotes, this book gives the reader a framework for adapting to other cultures, not a step-by-step guide to "here's what to take the hostess in Bulgaria." The stories of British colonists in India may seem irrelevant if a reader is looking for that level of detail, but they do present basic guidelines that are applicable to any culture in the world. I would recommend this as one book among many that a person should read prior to moving to an overseas assignment.
DON'T BOTHER.......2004-12-14
THIS BOOK WAS SO AWFUL, I GAVE IT TO THE GOODWILL WITHOUT EVEN FINISHING IT.IT KEPT SAYING THAT IT IS REALLY HARD TO STAY ABROAD FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME WITHOUT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR CULTURE. (NO KIDDING) SOMETHING THAT WE DO THAT OTHER CULTURES DON'T ,COULD MAKE US SEEM RUDE OR IN EXTREME CASES EVEN GET US KILLED. IT GOES ON TO TELL TALES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TROUBLE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. AND THAT'S IT. THEY NEVER GO INTO ANY OF THE OTHER CULTURES TO TELL US WHAT IS AND IS NOT PROPER EDIQUETTE. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT THE BOOK WAS GOING TO GO OVER ALOT OF OTHER CULTURES AND TALK ABOUT THEIR WAYS.THIS BOOK DIDN'T TELL ME ANYTHING THAT ANY HALF WAY INTELLIGENT PERSON DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW. NOT WORTH BUYING.
I usually hate this stuff..........2003-02-28
I am a totally way-too-confident, know-it-all travel partner, but I admit to having lost it while living in Eastern Europe last year with my husband (not his fault). Simply put: this book kept me from going home early SEVERAL times because Storti lets you moan and groan a little and then points out how you might have had a part in creating the cultural "misunderstanding" that plagues you. Trust me...if this book could help someone as stubborn as I am...it might be responsible for world peace someday.
Extraordinarily comforting and enlightening.......2003-02-07
This book remains a great source of wisdom and comfort, still needed after 15 years living abroad. The cultural differences aren't obvious any longer -- they can be deceptively subtle -- now that language and the daily facts of life are no longer an issue. However, I still trip over matters which I later realize to be cultural differences, and I assume others in similar situations do as well. And then I pull down Mr. Storti's book from the shelf and put it all into some sort of workable perspective.
Highly recommended to others, even those who have no intention of going abroad but would just like to have a better understanding of the cultural differences in this world -- something sorely needed these days.
By the way, Western women so quick to judge the 'sad' reality of women in Arab societies might do well to read this quotation from Harriet Martineau:
"[The women of the harem] pitied us European women heartily, that we had to go about travelling, and appearing in the streets without being properly taken care of -- that is, watched. They think us strangely neglected in being left so free, and boast of [how closely they are watched] as a token of the value in which they are held."
It should be a sobering reminder that it's a fools' game to judge, and certainly to pity, the reality of a person from a culture foreign to ours.
Thank you for your efforts and insights, Mr. Storti.
The first thing you should buy when planning to move abroad.......2002-03-04
This is an excellent book on culture shock ~ it has helped me a great deal in my own experience as an expat. They cover each stage of culture shock and offer strategies to combat them.
The only reason I didn't give this book "5 stars" is that they get a little obscure and too philosophical at times.
Book Description
A sneak attack by an enemy power leaves thousands of Americans dead. A minority group in America is harassed for its ties to a foreign country. A worldwide conflict tests our resolve in combat abroad and our commitment to justice, equality, and liberty at home…
Within months after Pearl Harbor, 110,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly “evacuated” from the West Coast, losing their jobs, their property, and their homes. In less than a year, they were “relocated” and incarcerated in desolate camps throughout the West, Southwest, and South. Yet, incredibly, thousands of young men from the camps joined the Army, to defend the country that had denied them their rights. This is the dramatic story of the segregated Japanese American 100th Battalion/442d Regimental Combat Team — and what they did to affirm their full citizenship. As Gen. Jacob L. Devers put it, in World War II the soldiers of the 100th/442d had “more than earned the right to be called just Americans, not Japanese Americans.”
During the fall of 1944, the combat team made headlines when it rescued the “lost battalion” of the 36th “Texas” Division. At the same time, with the 1944 elections looming, the Roosevelt Administration was debating whether to close the camps. And while the soldiers of the 100th/442d were sacrificing their lives in Europe, the Supreme Court was deciding the infamous Korematsu and Endo cases, which challenged the notion that “military necessity” justified the “relocation.”
Through interviews with surviving veterans, archival research, maps, and photos, Robert Asahina has reconstructed these fateful events of October-November 1944. From breathless battle scenes, masterfully handled in all their detail; to the unbreakable bonds of friendship in the field; to heart- wrenching stories of loss and discrimination on the mainland and in Hawaii, Just Americans tells the story of what Gen. George C. Marshall called the “most decorated unit in American military history for its size and length of service.” It is also the story of soldiers in combat who were fighting a greater battle at home — a struggle that continues for minority groups today — over what it means to be an American.
BACKCOVER: “Bob Asahina's wonderful book more than does justice to the history of the 442d and the brave men who wore its patch and called it home. Just Americans will be news to many, and for that reason, if for no other, I hope it becomes required reading in high school and college history courses. I pray that the stories he tells become known far and wide, so that the `mistakes' of our lamentable past may be less likely to be repeated.”
—Lucian K. Truscott IV, author of Dress Gray and Heart of War
“Many a survivor of that bitter 1944-45 winter of WWII will be happy to see the men of the 100th Battalion/442d Regimental Combat Team getting their bravery recognized. They became a legend among in the infantry units fighting in the Vosges Mountains.”
—Tony Hillerman, veteran of C Company, 410th Infantry, and best-selling author of the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee mysteries
“Just Americans is a wonderful account of a heroic wonder — people who gave everything for a country that seemed intent on taking everything away from them. If citizenship is earned, here are the Americans who most deserve their pay. If citizenship is bequeathed, here is freedom's greatest legacy. If citizenship is a blessing, here are the patriot saints.”
—P.J. O'Rourke, author of Peace Kills and Give War a Chance
"It was with American enthusiasm and Japanese tenacity that Japanese Americans overcame both persecution and resentment to fight most bravely on European battlefields in 1944-45, and Robert Asahina too needed both enthusiasm and tenacity to recover for history their doings and undoings. While adding to scholarship, the rich detail here masterfully presented makes for exciting reading."
—Edward N. Luttwak, historian, author of Strategy: The Logic of War and Peace, and Senior Adviser to The Center for Strategic & International Studies
Customer Reviews:
Very good study for the most part.......2007-07-22
Robert Asahina does a very good job at telling the story of the 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team, made up of predominantly Japanese Americans. A relative of Asahina's, interestingly, was in an entirely different Army unit and is nowhere to be mentioned in the book, other than on the dedication page: "To Shoichi Asahina, M.D., Captain, U.S. Army, 1943-45, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 7th Armored Division..." The "Sources" section contains some very good archival sources, especially where related U.S. Government files may be found.
The only demerit in the book is where Asahina sporadically makes comments on the evacuation and relocation issue, usually in agreement with modern re-interpretations of that period. Asahina, in fact, insists on placing key words in quotes, calling them euphemisms, which is typical with such authors who prefer activist terms such as "forced removal" and "concentration camps."
The major section containing the author's philosophical comments on these controversial issues can be found in the Appendix, which, frankly, could well have been omitted as it really has no bearing on the main subject matter. It is more of a ranting rebuttal of recent books by authors like Michelle Malkin and David Lowman. These authors, and two others, Lillian Baker and Keith Robar, Asahina relegates to a whole separate section in his bibliography -- the very last, in fact, titled "Revisionist Histories." Underneath the heading is this explanation: "The allegations and 'revelations' in these works must be regarded with considerable skepticism."
This is quite a statement coming from a man who apparently gives unqualified credence to the historical revisionism and re-interpretations of a good number of books he also includes in his bibliography, e.g. those by Daniels and Muller (see also my reviews on their books).
All things considered in the Appendix, Asahina adds nothing new to understanding the evacuation and relocation of the Nikkei during WWII. One excerpt, however, will suffice to show the author's bent on this issue:
"...the 'evacuation' made so little military sense that it can only be understood as the beginning stage of a sweeping social policy of 'relocating' a politically vulnerable minority group from a part of the country where much more powerful forces, reaching all the way to the White House, regarded its members as unwelcome."
One can easily see what this Army historian is saying here -- the U.S. military made a mistake, it was not military necessity, it was "social policy" (read racism). We have heard that charge before -- "race prejudice, war hysteria and a failure of political leadership" -- and Asahina parrots the same.
Asahina, along with others of his kind, utterly fail to mention the fact that the Issei were enemy aliens and the American public demanded something be done with them. We were at war with Japan; the Japanese Imperial forces were gaining great victories and ruled the Pacific arena. A very real issue also ignored is the fear of reprisals on the West Coast against the Nikkei, with a potential of civil unrest erupting into mass persecution of horrendous proportions. The real reason for the evacuation was clearly the protection of the Nikkei, who agreed themselves that this was the best policy, being quite relieved to live out the war in relocation centers. Call it what you may, but militarily it was a necessary decision during that war that Japan suddenly forced upon us.
Researchers looking for honesty in historical interpretations will not be satisfied with Asahina's views in the Appendix on the evacuation and relocation of the Nikkei during WWII. "Just Americans" need Asahina to be just honest... and drop the descriptor "Japanese" and really be "just an American."
Aside from those issues, this is a book that deserves a read in understanding more about those amazing men of the 100th and 442nd, one of whom is a dear neighbor friend of mine and who thought Asahina did a good job.
One of the best on the AJA battalions........2007-06-08
Robert Asahina's book on the 100th Battalion and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team is one of the best I've ever read on these brave men and their families. It has very compelling and personal descriptions of the battles these men fought, but what makes it stand out is the linking to the exile of Japanese Americans to internment camps, the political environment and decision-making regarding the treatment of Japanese Americans, and the huge personal, social, and economic costs borne by these loyal Americans during this period.
It is also well-researched, thoroughly sourced and cited, and brings the history up to current levels, including the awarding of the long overdue Medals of Honor to the AJA soldiers. It also discusses the analogies drawn with the post 9/11 environment in the US.
It doesn't cover all of the AJA experience in detail, primarily focusing on the European Theater and the US mainland, but I'd recommend it highly as a first book for anyone interested in this subject. It cites many books and reference materials for interested readers that you can follow up.
Excellent book.......2007-05-09
This is about the fifth book I have read on the 100/442. The author does an excellent job detailing the exploits of the unit and also skillfully ties in the human element. I would highly recommend this book to all.
Brian E Yamamoto
Excellent.......2007-05-07
I received the book in excellent condition. I was hesitant at first because it was so much cheaper than what it normally would cost but it looks brand new. The only flaw was a black mark on the binding. Other than that, there was nothing wrong with it.
A great story..........2006-07-04
I wouldn't have thought there was much new to say about the Japanese-American experience in WWII -- the internment at home, ad in particular incredible heroism of the soldiers in the famous "Go For Broke" 442d Regimental Combat Team and the "Lost Batallion". But Asahina fills out the story with interviews, maps, and pictures that brought it to life for me and made it relevant to modern issues about "racial profiling." I'm not of Japanese-American ancestry but I found this a terrific read.
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