| American Mythos: Why Our Best Efforts to Be a Better Nation Fall Short Subjects: Social values -- United States; Social ethics -- United States; United States -- Moral conditions; Immigrants -- United States; America was built on stories: tales of grateful immigrants arriving at Ellis Island, Horatio Alger-style transformations, self-made men, and the Protestant work ethic. In this new book, renowned sociologist Robert Wuthnow examines these most American of stories--narratives about individualism, immigration, success, religion, and ethnicity--through the eyes of recent immigrants. In doing so, he demonstrates how the "American mythos" has both legitimized American society and prevented it from fully realizing its ideals. Robert Wuthnow is Gerhard R. Andlinger '52 Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for the Study of Religion at Princeton University. His recent books include America and the Challenges of Religious Diversity and Saving America? Faith-Based Services and the Future of Civil Society (both Princeton). |