American Myths: What Canadians Think They Know About the United States Myths

by Rudyard Griffiths (Editor)

Despite generations of talking, trading, intermarrying, and fighting together as allies — not to mention sharing a border — Canadians cherish ideas about the United States that may not be true, ideas that often lead to a distorted perception of American society. American Myths challenges this conventional wisdom with 15 essays on topics including multiculturalism, health care, diplomacy, the environment, and America’s role as the world’s peacekeeper. Intelligent and thought-provoking, the book is required reading for anyone interested in future relations between the two nations.

Genres: Politics

213 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Horus · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an interesting exercise and, for some of it, well worth it. It is a good reminder to us Canadians that there are many things we cannot feel morally superior to the US about and offers good food for thought. Openess to recognize your own faults as well as the successes in others is a good first step towards improving ones own situation. However, I was somewhat disappointed that some of the authors took the opportunity to be just about as dogmatic in their own opnion pieces as they were accusing the rest of us of being, and were a little too heavy-handed with their cynacism. That aside, for those interested in a different perspective on Canadian-US relations, this book provides some good starting points for discussions.

[Kashayar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every one living in Canada should read this book and stop being anti-American. It's sad that Canadians don't value the fact of being neighbor to the best country of this world which is the United States. This book is very well reasoned, written and argued. I liked it!