Synopses & Reviews
The most famous long-distance hiking trail in North America, the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trailandmdash;the longest hiking-only footpath in the worldandmdash;runs along the Appalachian mountain range from Georgia to Maine. Every year about 2,000 individuals attempt to andldquo;thru-hikeandrdquo; the entire trail, a feat equivalent to hiking Mount Everest sixteen times. Inand#160;
Walking on the Wild Side,and#160;sociologist Kristi M. Fondrenand#160;traces the stories of forty-six men and women who, for their own personal reasons, set out to conquer Americaandrsquo;s most well known, and arguably most social, long-distance hiking trail.
and#160;
In this fascinating in-depth study, Fondren shows how, once out on the trail, this unique subculture of hikers lives mostly in isolation, with their own way of acting, talking, and thinking; their own vocabulary; their own activities and interests; and their own conception of what is significant in life. They tend to be self-disciplined, have an unwavering trust in complete strangers, embrace a life of poverty, and reject modern-day institutions. The volume illuminates the intense social intimacy and bonding that forms among long-distance hikers as they collectively construct a long-distance hiker identity. Fondren describes how long-distance hikers develop a trail persona, underscoring how important a sense of place can be to our identity, and to our sense of who we are. Indeed, the author adds a new dimension to our understanding of the nature of identity in general.
and#160;
Anyone who has hikedandmdash;or has ever dreamed of hikingandmdash;the Appalachian Trail will find this volume fascinating. Walking on the Wild Side captures a community for whom the trail is a sacred place, a place to which they have become attached, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Review
andquot;Well-written and informative, this book is an incredibly in-depth, sensitive look into the worlds of Filipino lives, families, and religious practices. Using multiple sources of data, Cherry puts Filipino religious lives in context, helping us get up-close views that bring social patterns to life.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherry's book captures the heartbeat of the Filipino immigrant community in America by its focus on how religion and family impact American civic life and the future of American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andquot;Using interviews and surveys, sociologist Cherry presents a thick description and analysis of the interplay of faith, family, and community life among the first generation of Filipino Americans in Houston, Texas. A significant contribution to immigration, ethnic/multicultural, Asian American, and religious studies. Highly recommended.andquot;
Review
andquot;A clear and honest examination of the Filipino Catholics in America. Cherry has provided a valuable contribution to the study of Asian Americans, migration, and religion.andquot;
Review
andquot;Stephen Cherry offers readers a close look at an immigrant group in the United Statesvthat has been significantly understudied relative to its size and importance. Cherry makes a strong argument for the significant impact of the Filipino-American community on American civic life and on
American Catholicism.andquot;
Review
andldquo;Well-written, accessible, and succinct, Kristi Fondrenandrsquo;s Walking on the Wild Side tells the interesting story of the Appalachian Trail. Upon finishing a chapter, the reader is anxious to move onto the next one.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Sharon Kim has written a clear, well-organized, and accessible book on an important emerging phenomenon among second generation Korean American churches.andquot;
Review
andquot;The book offers a rich and sympathetic insight into the world of seco
Review
andquot;This interesting and accessible book picks up on an emergent phenomenaandmdash;the creation of hybrid third spaces of worship among second-generation Korean Americans. Kim's work is a significant contribution to the study of religion and the new second-generation.andquot;
Review
andquot;Cherryandrsquo;s work is an important contribution to the literature on immigrant religion and religious communities. This work is suitable for multiple readerships from undergraduate studies and graduate seminars in religion, race or ethnicity, culture, and Asian American studies.andquot;
Review
andquot;Fondrenand#160;takes readers on the most memorable of journeys. She portrays hikers braving both environmental and social elements, and, with remarkable sensitivity, she reveals that they are not so different than the rest of us. The Appalachian Trail is a microcosm of American society, and a fascinating one at that.andquot;and#160;
Review
andquot;Cherry expands the possibilities for a truly public sociology, and thereby, offers a long awaited, unusually rich analysis of contemporary American Catholicism from Filipino epistemological perspectives.andquot;
Synopsis
This ground-breaking book draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. It illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family.
Synopsis
Stephen M. Cherry draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. From the planning and construction of community centers, to volunteering at health fairs or protesting against abortion, this book illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family.
Revealing more than intimate accounts of Filipino American lives, Cherry offers a glimpse of the often hidden but vital relationship between religion and community in the lives of new immigrants, and allows speculation on the broader impact of Filipino immigration on the nation. The Filipino American community is the second-largest immigrant community in the United States, and the Philippines is the second-largest source of Catholic immigration to this country. This ground-breaking study outlines how first-generation Filipino Americans have the potential to reshape American Catholicism and are already having an impact on American civic life through the engagement of their faith.
Synopsis
Stephen M. Cherry draws upon a rich set of ethnographic and survey data, collected over a six-year period, to explore the roles that Catholicism and family play in shaping Filipino American community life. From the planning and construction of community centers, to volunteering at health fairs or protesting against abortion, this book illustrates the powerful ways these forces structure and animate not only how first-generation Filipino Americans think and feel about their community, but how they are compelled to engage it over issues deemed important to the sanctity of the family.
Revealing more than intimate accounts of Filipino American lives, Cherry offers a glimpse of the often hidden but vital relationship between religion and community in the lives of new immigrants, and allows speculation on the broader impact of Filipino immigration on the nation. The Filipino American community is the second-largest immigrant community in the United States, and the Philippines is the second-largest source of Catholic immigration to this country. This ground-breaking study outlines how first-generation Filipino Americans have the potential to reshape American Catholicism and are already having an impact on American civic life through the engagement of their faith.
Synopsis
Inand#160;
Walking on the Wild Side,and#160;sociologist Kristi M. Fondrenand#160;traces the stories of forty-six men and women who set out to trek Americaandrsquo;s most well known long-distance hiking trail. The volume illuminates the intense social intimacy and bonding that forms among long-distance hikers as they collectively construct a long-distance hiker identity, revealing how important a sense of place can be to our identity.
Synopsis
Second-generation Korean Americans, demonstrating an unparalleled entrepreneurial fervor, are establishing new churches with a goal of shaping the future of American Christianity. A Faith of Our Own investigates the development and growth of these houses of worship, a recent and rapidly increasing phenomenon in major cities throughout the United States. Including data gathered over ten years at twenty-two churches, it is the most comprehensive study of this topic that addresses generational, identity, political, racial, and empowerment issues
About the Author
KRISTI M. FONDREN is an associate professor of sociology at Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Abbreviations
1. Faithfully Filipino and American
2. Catholic Culture and Filipino Families
3. Community of Communities
4. Communities in Conflict
5. Building Centers of Community
6. Caring for Community
7. Protecting Family and Life
8. Growing Presence and Potential Impacts
Methodological Appendix
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index