How They See Us: Meditations on America

"A patchwork of personal narratives knitted around the impact of U.S. foreign policy before and after September 11, this book brings together leading voices in world literature, academia and international media including Chris Abani, Ricardo Alarcn and Terry Eagleton. Ranging from the autobiographical to the philosophical, these pieces reflect on how American cultural, military and political imperialism touches lives from Mexico to Morocco, Canada to China. A recurring theme of these informal essays is the psychosocial conflict that results from loving American music, food and such historical and pop culture as Marilyn Monroe, Martin Luther King Jr. and Bruce Springsteen, while despising Reagan and Bush. The authors also turn the mirror on themselves to examine why so many non-Americans claim a moral high ground while also assuming that they know 'how to be better Americans than the Americans' through the spread of global consumerism. Full of humor and pathos in equal and abounding measure, this compact volume covers the intellectual ground from 'Donald Duck to Donald Rumsfeld' with wit, depth and originality." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Americans live in a pre-Copernican universe: we think the world revolves around us. Seventeen writers from abroad offer a fresh perspective.

A superpower without parallel since the British Empire, the United States is a source of incessant fascination to the rest of the world. Absurdly rich, alarmingly volatile, we inspire both fear and envy. Just as our aggressive foreign policy has turned our allies against us, the rise of Barack Obama is now seen as our salvation. 9/11, the world historical event that "changed everything," has been superseded by 11/4, the date of his election to the presidency of the United States. Through it all, "America" remains a phenomenon, a myth, the wonder of the world.

"Know thyself" is a difficult injunction to follow and often requires the insights of others. To gain some perspective, How They See Us features writers and intellectuals from around the globe. These trenchant essays constitute a primer of international literature, an aid to self-criticism, and an invitation to celebrate our national virtues.

James Atlas is the president of Atlas & Co. and founder of the Penguin Lives series. His numerous books include Bellow: A Biography, Delmore Schwartz: The Life of an American Poet and the memoir My Life in the Middle Ages. He lives in New York City.