The American Dream: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation

Despite years of reporting on tragedies around the world, Dan Rather is clearly an optimist. His take on the American dream, as personified by more than 30 Americans, is an inspiring reminder that the ideals the nation was founded upon are still alive and well. Rather first looked at how Americans pursued the American dream in a yearlong feature for his CBS Evening News show. His book takes off where the series ended, with more in-depth stories of those successfully pursuing their version of the dream.

Nosrat Scott came to the U.S. in search of freedom of religion. She was so persecuted for her Bah'ai faith in Iran that she was moved to tears when she realized she could speak openly of her religion in her English-as-a-second-language class. For many, of course, the American dream is all about making it rich. Some traveled long distances only to be surprised by fortune, such as Trung Dung, who escaped Vietnam at the age of 17 and became a multimillionaire with his Internet start-up company. There are those who covet the pursuit of happiness as an end in itself, such as the couple who gave up their high-paying jobs in Southern California to move to a small town in Oregon in order to meet their "not rich criteria"--that is, time for family and community. And there are those who have to swallow their pride to get there, like the chef from Georgia who learned to read at age 26. Other dreams are organized under the headings of fame, family, innovation, and service, which could just as easily have been titled the pursuit of justice.

There are few recognizable names here, but the stories of these everyday heroes are a spirited antidote to a creeping national cynicism and a vigorous challenge to seize on the opportunities--and responsibilities--that the dream implies. --Lesley Reed