Book Thoughts: A Nation of Nations by Tom Gjelten

A Nation of Nations: A Great American Immigration Story by Tom Gjelten
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just finished tonight, and while further reflection may frequently cause slight changes (and sometimes significant changes) in opinion, this is a good book. There is nothing, for lack of better wording, spectacular about the book. But its a book about immigration and its history in the United States, and its impossible for a reader to come away from this book without being better informed and a broader awareness. One of the stronger writing points for the book is how it weaves individual and personal immigration stories into the broader context of the history being told. The author shares the stories and journeys of immigrants from Korea, Libya, and El Salvador, among others, and ties those stories to the overarching immigration history in the country, particularly in the 20th century and the culminating act of the 1965 Immigration Act.

An interesting reality to observe in the book is how the definition of "American" has involved in the immigration debate and thus, consequently, how the definition of outsiders have evolved. It used to be based purely on national origin - which was the basis of the quota system that existed in the early 20th century. Thus, there were limitations on people from Italy, and then from Eastern Europe, as the belief they would diminish the "stock" of true Americans. Yet now, that has evolved where people have decried that decreasing numbers of Americans with any European ancestry as a result of increased immigration from Asia and Latin America. I believe an underlying question in the book is whether America will adjust to the changing nature of the identity of its citizens, or if something less than exceptional will take place.

As a whole, the book also does a good job of discussing the challenges of immigration - not just from a tolerance and integration standpoint, but also how it impacts and has shaped economics and politics, particularly in the last 50 years. This is a timely book that is informative and well-written, and one interested in one of the hot-button issues of today would be well served to give this book a read.

View all my reviews