In Our Image: America's Empire in the Philippines

Most books on the Philippines are about American experiences there, mainly in World War II. This is a well written, easily read history of that fascinating country. It not only gives the history, but informs on the culture of the Philippines, and explains history that otherwise might be invisible or hard to understand. (For example, how Chinese immigrants influenced the richest families, the love/hate relationship of Filippinos with the USA, the reason why some Filippino politicians sided with Japan, etc.). If you have to read just one book on this fascinating country, this is the one to read.

Karnow has painstakingly crafted a rich, densly fact filled historical biography centering on America's forgotten involvment with it's only true colony, obtained through dubious pretenses from Spain in 1898. The book follows foreign involvement in the Philippines from Ferdinand Magellan's landing in 1521 to the end of the Regan era. Karnow's narrative provides expert and eye-opening insight into the inside workings of the Spanish and American colonial powers and their abusive, beneficial and at times comical consequences on the long-suffering Philippine people. An original book about a unique country with an even more unique history. An excellent read.

History writing rarely is this good... even Stanley Karnow's more famous book on Vietnam pales in comparison. The best part of this book is that it doesn't read like a dry history, but like a very rich and interesting novel. No wonder Stanley Karnow won the Pulitzer prize for writing this book.The reality is this book details the wonderful, rich, benevolent, and sometimes tragic relationship that the US had with its one and only true foreign colony. And as someone who has traveled extensively and lived in the Philippines, this book is spot on.As an American, I can only shake my head at President Clinton's sheer ignorance for not visiting the PI during the national celebrations of their Centennary of Independence from Spain in 1998, an independence that the US helped them get... and then took away for another 50 years.Read this book, especially if you are American, and learn something important about America's involvement in Asia... some may argue even more important that America's involvement in Vietnam. To this day, the Philippines is the world's third largest english speaking nation behind the US and UK.... A monumental piece of history.

The average American knows little about the Philippines except for occasional news stories about tradgedies, and most Americans have visited this lovely country only as members of the armed services. However, Philippino history is more complicated and diverse than one would think from such contact. Stanley Karnow's book is a good introduction to the history and politics of this fascinating country, and his insight into the way the culture works, including the importance of family connections, is a good introduction to anyone who intends to visit this country and to understand it's ways and its people