The American Dream [Large Print]

This was a very inspirational book. It brings to life the work of dozens of heroes...people who love America. There is SO MUCH greatness in the country. It is time we concentrate on that instead of dwelling on the negative stories. Don't tell Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh, but Dan Rather will go down in history as one of the great broadcast journalists of all time. He walks the walk and talks the talk. I never understood why some people hate Dan Rather so much. What a great book!!Jeffrey McAndrewbroadcast journalist and author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

CBS News anchor Dan Rather gives us a truly fascinating look at 30 American Dreamers, their struggles and triumphs, and I can honestly say that the book doesn't lag in any single spot throughout, which is quite an accomplishment, when dealing with so many diffrent people's stories.Also, Rather proves to be a very solid writer, sprinkling levity and personal anecdotes in just the right amount, in my humble opinion. The first woman astronaut, a Food Network chef who remained illiterate until age 26, exceptional teachers, and author Jacquline Mitchard are but a handful of the folks Rather covers. Well worth the read.

Read THE AMERICAN DREAM by Dan Rather . . . it is a moving collection of stories about Americans who struggle for and achieve their desires and ambitions . . . none of them is particularly famous, and that's what i liked about the book . . . it was very real . . . inspiring, too. There were several memorable passages; among them: Education alone might not make you a fortune or bring you fame, but Rubylinda [Zickafoose] sees that it gives you something very personal and permanent. "I've seen life without education," she says, "and I see what I have now and how blessed I am to have the ability to know, and to reason, and to learn. It's something that goes with me wherever I go, and no one can take that away from me." In this light, education just isn't part of the American dream, it's a tool for living the dream every day. Once gained, nothing can take it away. I have to wonder how one person [Sister Sylvia Schmidt] manages to do so much. Life presents us with countless crises to be addressed, and America's particular list of problems can seen overwhelming at times. In Sylvia's view, though, these are opportunities for improving ourselves through service. Her advice? "Number one is not to try to take it all on." Instead, she counsels, "Say 'What is the one thing I can do?' and enjoy doing it. I think that's the most important thing, not to do it just out of a sense of guilt or obligation. It's got to be a real enrichment in our lives." With words like these, backed by a lifetime of good work, Sister Sylvia reminds us that sowing should have as prominent a role in the American dream as reaping. And as we sow, I think she would agree, so shall we all reap. Everyone in this book offered their personal take on the American dream, and their ideas were as diverse as they. All, however, were dedicated reamers, in the best possible sense. Perhaps because of his youth, it was Josh [Marcus] who provided the most Utopian, the most impossibly beautiful vision. "I think the American dream is for a prefect society," he said plainly. "For everybody to be equal. For everybody to have the same opportunities in life. For the rich to give back to the poor, and for the poor to help themselves. And everyone getting along and having lots of peace." Thank you, Josh, for the answer. If I had to pick just one, that would be it.

This is an excellent book. Even the conservative thinktanks who despise the so-called liberal Dan Rather will have to agree with the often recurring theme that America uniquely provides opportunities for one to not only dare to dream but also to actively pursue those dreams.Rather has presented a nicely condensed volume depicting stories that are summarized in less than 10 pages, but if each had been given full analytical treatment, a good number of them could possibly be 200-page parallels to Behind the Urals.Neat. Concise. Concrete. A reminder that though freedom is almost second-nature or common sense to those of us born in America, it is a virtually ill-conceived notion for those who were not, and many in this latter group, despite obtaining U.S. citizenship, have already suffered economically and psychologically after growing up and living for several years under spartan conditions in other countries whose governments have turned both a deaf ear and a blind eye to them.After reading these testimonies of overcoming hardship or oppression, or both, I, myself, am reminded that the U.S. is a great country and that even though there are so many unresolved issues here, we are at least, by all present-day standards, free to attempt to bring them to the forefront.

A reviewer has called into question the validity of the stories contained in this book. I can understand the skepticism, especially with respect to the Vietnam vet returning to adopt little Anna. I have read and re-read that story many times - and lived it too. Dan Rather captured the very essence of the experience my wife Karen and I had during our trip to Vietnam and the struggles which lead to our decision to adopt. We're disappointed only in our exclusion from the "abridged" audio book version - but will cherish this book as a legacy for our two children, Julie (home-made) and Anna.