The Economist's best book of the year! Highly recommended by "Us Weekly", "Wall Street Journal", "Washington Post" and many other organizations!
Out of guilt, a Wall Street trader spent three years and traveled 240,000 kilometers to go deep into the bottom of society, using his lens and words to try to show a real and fragmented picture of American society.
A book that captures the feelings of "despair and tenacity" at the bottom level! Not only the United States, but also the despair and resilience of the bottom class all over the world!
When people think of the United States, the first thing that often comes to mind is the glamorous skyscrapers of Manhattan and the trend-setting cutting-edge technologies of Silicon Valley. This is indeed a portrayal of America, but it is not the whole story. A Wall Street trader, driven by guilt over the financial industry, sets out to explore America beyond the central business district. In the book "The American Bottom", he used his lens and words to present a fragmented and real picture of American society, and made useful thoughts on bridging the class gap.
He realized how little he knew about the many Americans who were much poorer than those in his social circle. So, in the Bronx, he started talking to people and taking pictures of them. He said that the situation he encountered was not as others told him. It was actually friendly, warm and beautiful, not empty, dangerous and ugly. In this way, he began a 240,000-kilometer, three-year journey through backward areas in the United States. From Lewiston, Maine, to Bakersfield, California, he traveled through urban and rural areas, black areas and white areas, stopping in many places along the way. He wrote about this journey in the book "Underclass America" - a deeply empathetic work.
Reader comments
After watching Lao A's killing line and some videos, my spiritual vision has improved.
The content of this book is worth reading. But you should never compare physical suffering with mental suffering. Some people choose one or the other, and they have to take responsibility for themselves. Readers, don't be overwhelmed by your own cheap sympathy inspired by these phenomena. You should understand that the intellectual suffering you suffer should not be weighed on the same scale as the physical suffering. But it is absolutely true not to have a feeling of superiority, always be humble. Respect everyone's happy philosophy.
They choose instant gratification, while you choose to continually ascend your soul. To over six thousand feet.
"The American Bottom" written by Chris Arnade and translated by Xu Nan may be the non-fiction book that helps the world see through the "American Dream". The book describes that the lower class society in the United States is riddled with holes. The author went deep into the slums and had in-depth discussions with various groups of people (hypocrites, prostitutes, vagrants, etc.) And exposed the lower class society in the United States. At the same time, he also came to the conclusion that the "elite system" currently pursued in the United States is a system worth reflecting on. The book says: "We say that anyone can succeed as long as they are smart and diligent. The reason is that if you fail, it is your own problem because you are lazy, stupid or slow." Is it because you are lazy, stupid or slow? Even if you have a top academic degree, but you can only work as an ordinary waiter in an ordinary restaurant, you will still not succeed. Wrong, where is it?
Arnard's writing project lasted for 8 years to ensure that his observations were not biased in one direction, and even compared with "Invisible America", "Sweeping Out: Poverty and Profits in American Cities", "What's Wrong with America: Death of Despair and the Future of Capitalism" and other American realist low-level books, which recorded the shortcomings of American community, happiness, friendship, dignity and racial integration, triggering people's thinking not about data rational thinking but about inner sublimation...
It's very true and the author is very attentive. It also made me understand that in the United States, people at the bottom basically have faith, but most people at the top don't believe it.
It turns out that in the eyes of the lower class Americans, bright reds and pinks are worn by black people, while white people are more willing to wear light-colored clothes such as white. Of course, the author did not say what the upper class thought of color.
The failure of society comes from many aspects, including the failure of decision-makers, the inevitability of social development, and more importantly, the fixed mindset of being unwilling to accept change and the reality of being unable to accept change! When a person is not willing to cherish life himself, how can he expect others to cherish it for him?
Anand worked hard for 8 years, traveled to many places, and worked hard to create this shocking work. His writing style is as realistic as a reporter's interview record. He aims to reveal the other side of the highly developed United States. This book is a masterpiece and is recommended for everyone to read.
The vivid descriptions of details make this book a success and allow people to better understand American life. "I can't ignore the value of faith now, both as a scientist and as a person who claims to want to learn from others. I still think it's something useful—similar to McDonald's, or even drugs. It's popular because it works. However, after attending hundreds of different church services, I began to Beginning to realize that there is more to religion than that. My biases, and my accumulated sense of rationality and superiority over the years, limited my understanding of religion as something that might be true, or perhaps as true as anything else. Understanding that required an intellectual humility that I wasn't sure I had. Like most people on the front bench, I'm used to thinking we have all the answers."
The English title of this book is DIGNITY: SEEKING RESPECT IN BACK ROW AMERICA. If it is a literal translation, it is "Dignity: Seeking Respect in the Back Row of the United States". I think "dignity" is the most important thought this book wants to express. From the perspective of American society, most people in poor areas of the United States sit at McDonald's day after day. Society's first reaction is why "they" are so lazy. "They" also worked in the factory. Unexpectedly, the capitalists sought to maximize profits and moved the factory. Because "they" have dark skin, they are automatically discriminated against by white people. If you move away from your hometown, you will no longer be respected and your dignity will be out of the question.
It reflects the hollowing out of American cities and the complex issues of racial discrimination. I really don't know how to define this book, but this book really helped me understand the United States better.
This book allowed me to see another side of American society, those at the bottom who are often ignored. The photography in the book is very impactful, such as Joes turning over on the roadside and Tajisha looking at the stars, etc., Which impressed me deeply. I love the tenacity and love of life of the characters in the book, who maintain hope despite difficult circumstances. This book is not only about the United States, but also focuses on and thinks about the bottom of the world. I recommend it to you!
The author describes the United States that I don't understand. The author puts aside his prejudices and goes deep into the "back row" to objectively show the unknown side of the United States, a developed capitalist country. With the warmest concern, he writes about the various unfair treatments suffered by people in the back row due to racial discrimination and the extreme imbalance in the development of American society due to the pursuit of economy. He hopes to attract the attention of all political parties in society and be thought-provoking.
Tribute to legendary investigators
The people at the bottom of the economic and social ladder in American society usually refer to the poor and socially disadvantaged groups. These people may face various challenges such as financial difficulties, low income, lack of education and employment opportunities, health problems, and poor living environment. In the United States, government and non-profit organizations are committed to helping and supporting the underprivileged, providing welfare programs such as job training, social security, health care, and housing. However, the problem of the underclass still exists in the United States, and different political views and economic policies will also have an impact on the conditions of the people at the bottom. The author describes these contents in detail in this book.
A lot comes to mind when reading the book. The United States prides itself on being a beacon of civilization, but its country is a mess. It doesn't mean you are really high.
This book exposes the miserable lives of the people at the bottom of the American system under the capitalist system. The root cause of all this is the hollowing out of American industry. Plutocrats control all public resources such as the political economy, resulting in a series of social problems such as drug proliferation and poverty. To solve them, we must revolution, industrialize again, and achieve communism.
"Life is getting worse and worse, but no matter what, we still have to live."
I don't know the United States very well, but what the author wrote is really true. Let me see a different America.
Looking at it, we can understand why Trump came to power, and we hope that China will not follow in his footsteps.
The vivid image reflects the situation of disadvantaged groups in the United States, and the writing is good
A very good book that provides a very good introduction for us to understand the bottom class of the United States.
Suffering people at the bottom
Very happy, I understand the world more and more, and I understand the world less and less
Very suitable for filming documentaries
A person with a stable warehouse and tripod knows etiquette; a person with adequate food and clothing knows honor and disgrace.
The influence of a work is both limited and unlimited. The key lies in how readers treat it. The same is true for the gap between rich and poor in society. This gap will not be changed just because one person wakes up. This is a process from quantitative change to qualitative change. One more reader will bring one more witness, one more action will bring more power.
The author's language is concise and meaningful. Without too many cumbersome embellishments, he shows the lives of the people at the bottom. It is a very shocking book.
Wipe away the appearance and make people think deeply
Thanks to the authors, translators, and editors of this book.
Up and down, front row and back row, equality and discrimination, developed and backward, moving forward and stopping
I walked, even though I was slow, I didn't stop
After watching Lao A's killing line and some videos, my spiritual vision has improved.
The content of this book is worth reading. But you should never compare physical suffering with mental suffering. Some people choose one or the other, and they have to take responsibility for themselves. Readers, don't be overwhelmed by your own cheap sympathy inspired by these phenomena. You should understand that the intellectual suffering you suffer should not be weighed on the same scale as the physical suffering. But it is absolutely true not to have a feeling of superiority, always be humble. Respect everyone's happy philosophy. They choose instant gratification, while you choose to continually ascend your soul. To over six thousand feet.
"The American Bottom" written by Chris Arnade and translated by Xu Nan may be the non-fiction book that helps the world see through the "American Dream". The book describes that the lower class society in the United States is riddled with holes. The author went deep into the slums and had in-depth discussions with various groups of people (hypocrites, prostitutes, vagrants, etc.) And exposed the lower class society in the United States. At the same time, he also came to the conclusion that the "elite system" currently pursued in the United States is a system worth reflecting on. The book says: "We say that anyone can succeed as long as they are smart and diligent. The reason is that if you fail, it is your own problem because you are lazy, stupid or slow." Is it because you are lazy, stupid or slow? Even if you have a top academic degree, but you can only work as an ordinary waiter in an ordinary restaurant, you will still not succeed. Wrong, where is it?
Arnard's writing project lasted for 8 years to ensure that his observations were not biased in one direction, and even compared with "Invisible America", "Sweeping Out: Poverty and Profits in American Cities", "What's Wrong with America: Death of Despair and the Future of Capitalism" and other American realist low-level books, which recorded the shortcomings of American community, happiness, friendship, dignity and racial integration, triggering people's thinking not about data rational thinking but about inner sublimation...
It's very true and the author is very attentive. It also made me understand that in the United States, people at the bottom basically have faith, but most people at the top don't believe it. It turns out that in the eyes of the lower class Americans, bright reds and pinks are worn by black people, while white people are more willing to wear light-colored clothes such as white. Of course, the author did not say what the upper class thought of color.
The failure of society comes from many aspects, including the failure of decision-makers, the inevitability of social development, and more importantly, the fixed mindset of being unwilling to accept change and the reality of being unable to accept change! When a person is not willing to cherish life himself, how can he expect others to cherish it for him?
Anand worked hard for 8 years, traveled to many places, and worked hard to create this shocking work. His writing style is as realistic as a reporter's interview record. He aims to reveal the other side of the highly developed United States. This book is a masterpiece and is recommended for everyone to read.
The vivid descriptions of details make this book a success and allow people to better understand American life. "I can't ignore the value of faith now, both as a scientist and as a person who claims to want to learn from others. I still think it's something useful—similar to McDonald's, or even drugs. It's popular because it works. However, after attending hundreds of different church services, I began to Beginning to realize that there is more to religion than that. My biases, and my accumulated sense of rationality and superiority over the years, limited my understanding of religion as something that might be true, or perhaps as true as anything else. Understanding that required an intellectual humility that I wasn't sure I had. Like most people on the front bench, I'm used to thinking we have all the answers."
The English title of this book is DIGNITY: SEEKING RESPECT IN BACK ROW AMERICA. If it is a literal translation, it is "Dignity: Seeking Respect in the Back Row of the United States". I think "dignity" is the most important thought this book wants to express. From the perspective of American society, most people in poor areas of the United States sit at McDonald's day after day. Society's first reaction is why "they" are so lazy. "They" also worked in the factory. Unexpectedly, the capitalists sought to maximize profits and moved the factory. Because "they" have dark skin, they are automatically discriminated against by white people. If you move away from your hometown, you will no longer be respected and your dignity will be out of the question.
It reflects the hollowing out of American cities and the complex issues of racial discrimination. I really don't know how to define this book, but this book really helped me understand the United States better.
This book allowed me to see another side of American society, those at the bottom who are often ignored. The photography in the book is very impactful, such as Joes turning over on the roadside and Tajisha looking at the stars, etc., Which impressed me deeply. I love the tenacity and love of life of the characters in the book, who maintain hope despite difficult circumstances. This book is not only about the United States, but also focuses on and thinks about the bottom of the world. I recommend it to you!
The author describes the United States that I don't understand. The author puts aside his prejudices and goes deep into the "back row" to objectively show the unknown side of the United States, a developed capitalist country. With the warmest concern, he writes about the various unfair treatments suffered by people in the back row due to racial discrimination and the extreme imbalance in the development of American society due to the pursuit of economy. He hopes to attract the attention of all political parties in society and be thought-provoking.
Tribute to legendary investigators
The people at the bottom of the economic and social ladder in American society usually refer to the poor and socially disadvantaged groups. These people may face various challenges such as financial difficulties, low income, lack of education and employment opportunities, health problems, and poor living environment. In the United States, government and non-profit organizations are committed to helping and supporting the underprivileged, providing welfare programs such as job training, social security, health care, and housing. However, the problem of the underclass still exists in the United States, and different political views and economic policies will also have an impact on the conditions of the people at the bottom. The author describes these contents in detail in this book.
A lot comes to mind when reading the book. The United States prides itself on being a beacon of civilization, but its country is a mess. It doesn't mean you are really high.
This book exposes the miserable lives of the people at the bottom of the American system under the capitalist system. The root cause of all this is the hollowing out of American industry. Plutocrats control all public resources such as the political economy, resulting in a series of social problems such as drug proliferation and poverty. To solve them, we must revolution, industrialize again, and achieve communism.
"Life is getting worse and worse, but no matter what, we still have to live."
I don't know the United States very well, but what the author wrote is really true. Let me see a different America.
Looking at it, we can understand why Trump came to power, and we hope that China will not follow in his footsteps.
The vivid image reflects the situation of disadvantaged groups in the United States, and the writing is good
A very good book that provides a very good introduction for us to understand the bottom class of the United States.
Suffering people at the bottom
Very happy, I understand the world more and more, and I understand the world less and less
Very suitable for filming documentaries
A person with a stable warehouse and tripod knows etiquette; a person with adequate food and clothing knows honor and disgrace.
The influence of a work is both limited and unlimited. The key lies in how readers treat it. The same is true for the gap between rich and poor in society. This gap will not be changed just because one person wakes up. This is a process from quantitative change to qualitative change. One more reader will bring one more witness, one more action will bring more power.
The author's language is concise and meaningful. Without too many cumbersome embellishments, he shows the lives of the people at the bottom. It is a very shocking book.
Wipe away the appearance and make people think deeply
Thanks to the authors, translators, and editors of this book.
Up and down, front row and back row, equality and discrimination, developed and backward, moving forward and stopping I walked, even though I was slow, I didn't stop