Rating: 
Summary: Great stories, too much Rather
Review: A more appropriate subtitle for this book might be, Those who achieved despite America's wrongs. Readers like me who come to this book expecting patriotic success stories of Americans aided by their nation's greatness will be disappointed by Rather's cynical view that hangs over this book.The book is chock full of success stories that were not broadcast during Rather's "American Dream" segments on the CBS Evening News program. The stories, due to Rather's fine writing skills, are inspiring, moving and heart-warming. The Americans portrayed are certainly deserving of the praise and attention this book brings them. Their stories alone make this book worth purchasing. But, caveat emptor, Rather brands this book with his cynicism of what is wrong with America and how the U.S. Constitution should be viewed. He profiles the successes of the heroes in this book against the failings in American society that they had to overcome. Rather's favorite American sins? Greed, big business, the wealthy, and white men in the less-enlightened past. Word of mouth will not be good among Republican readers. Rather, for the most part, shies away from famous household names in this collection. Even the people profiled in the "fame" chapter (with the exception perhaps of author Jacquelyn Mitchard) are not household names. While the subtitle of the book indicates these people come from the "heart" of the nation, most of those profiled here come from decidedly urban environments. But that should not detract from the fine stories presented here. This is a good book that could have been great if Rather would have checked his ego at the keyboard.
Rating: 
Summary: One VERY True Story!
Review: A reviewer has called into question the validity of the stories contained in this book. I can understand the skepticism, especially with respect to the Vietnam vet returning to adopt little Anna. I have read and re-read that story many times - and lived it too. Dan Rather captured the very essence of the experience my wife Karen and I had during our trip to Vietnam and the struggles which lead to our decision to adopt. We're disappointed only in our exclusion from the "abridged" audio book version - but will cherish this book as a legacy for our two children, Julie (home-made) and Anna.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!
Review: CBS News anchor Dan Rather gives us a truly fascinating look at 30 American Dreamers, their struggles and triumphs, and I can honestly say that the book doesn't lag in any single spot throughout, which is quite an accomplishment, when dealing with so many diffrent people's stories. Also, Rather proves to be a very solid writer, sprinkling levity and personal anecdotes in just the right amount, in my humble opinion. The first woman astronaut, a Food Network chef who remained illiterate until age 26, exceptional teachers, and author Jacquline Mitchard are but a handful of the folks Rather covers. Well worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Reality vs. Illusion
Review: Clearly, an inspirational book - well written, cogently presented - all in true-to-form Dan Rather style. Whilst telling us about many "American Success" stories, Rather seems to suggest that the right idea at the right time, combined with hard work, stamina, and perhaps a little bit of luck will ultimately get you there - to riches (material and otherwise). Sadly, it's also part of the American Dream that the rate of failure is much higher than one expects, and occasionally, the reason for failure is also rooted in the "American Dream". Nevertheless, it's good to know that the Dream continues - a refreshing reminder amongst often too much bad news. A good read - but don't get too carried away.
Rating:
Summary: Reality vs. Illusion
Review: Clearly, an inspirational book - well written, cogently presented - all in true-to-form Dan Rather style. Whilst telling us about many "American Success" stories, Rather seems to suggest that the right idea at the right time, combined with hard work, stamina, and perhaps a little bit of luck will ultimately get you there - to riches (material and otherwise). Sadly, it's also part of the American Dream that the rate of failure is much higher than one expects, and occasionally, the reason for failure is also rooted in the "American Dream". Nevertheless, it's good to know that the Dream continues - a refreshing reminder amongst often too much bad news. A good read - but don't get too carried away.
Rating: 
Summary: Oh Danny Boy...
Review: First off, I love Dan Rather. He's a wonderful, passionate man whom I love to watch on the news. The problem is, he's not a writer. Not a very good one at least. This book is a noble attempt, but there is just so much that's wrong with it.
For one thing, there is just some bad writing in it. It has a lot of errors in fact and a lot of typos. Among others, he writes that Texas A&M University (rather than Texas Tech) is in Lubbock, and he says that Ryne Sandberg in in the Baseball Hall of Fame (he just should be soon). There is also bad grammar (this is beyond the Texas colloquialisms in the book which I think are fine-I'm a Texan myself). These are fairly small problems, but they are oftly annoying, and they are not good signs in a book written by a journalist who's supposed to report facts. Furthermore, he just has few narrative talents, at least not those required for a book. He tells the stories as a journalist on Headline News would--concise, to the point, and without much flavor. They're just there; the reader is rarely drawn in.
The most glaring flaw, though, is that there are a lot of flaws in logic in the book. For instance, one of the stories is about a ten-year-old boy who realizes that many of the underpriveleged at his school cannot afford school supplies, so he works together an organization that collects and disperses those needed supplies. This is all obviously a good thing. But then, Rather relates a joke told by the boy's mother who said she needed to haul the school supplies around so she "traded in [her] Lexus for a Durango, and now [she's] getting a Yukon because the Durango isn't big enough." My problem is the huge contrast here. On one hand, there are all of these kids lacking necessities and the heroes who are helping them are laughing about purchasing one expensive SUV after another for themselves. How is this inequality emblematic of the American Dream? How does this book manage to lament the rising poverty rates and terrible living conditions and still manage to promote excessive materialism? There are some people in the book who are praised for having overcome hardship to make millions (some of them stepping on other people's heads to do so) and others who are praised for having given up millions to help those in need. Frankly, these two "ideals" don't go together. Nevertheless, these people, according to Rather, have all attained the American dream. There are a lot of contradicting ideas expressed in these stories. Furthermore, I don't really think Rather has a great concept of what the American dream is. When Sister Sylvia Schmidt founds a homeless shelter in Tulsa, OK, I don't think she is following the American Dream. I think she's following dreams that go far beyond the American Dream, and I think she's rejecting the prevalent, primarily materialistic, concept of the American Dream of today's society.
I'm giving the book two stars because I like Dan Rather, and because some of the stories were rather inspiring. Neverthess, it's not a good book. I will continue to watch Dan Rather on tv, but I'm quite sure I won't read a book by him again.
Rating:
Summary: Moving collection of stories about Americans
Review: Read THE AMERICAN DREAM by Dan Rather . . . it is a moving
collection of stories about Americans who struggle for and achieve
their desires and ambitions . . . none of them is particularly
famous, and that's what i liked about the book . . . it was
very real . . . inspiring, too. There were several memorable passages; among them:
Education alone might not make you a fortune or bring you
fame, but Rubylinda [Zickafoose] sees that it gives you
something very personal and permanent. "I've seen life
without education," she says, "and I see what I have
now and how blessed I am to have the ability to know, and to
reason, and to learn. It's something that goes with me
wherever I go, and no one can take that away from me."
In this light, education just isn't part of the American dream,
it's a tool for living the dream every day. Once gained, nothing
can take it away. I have to wonder how one person [Sister Sylvia Schmidt]
manages to do so much. Life presents us with countless
crises to be addressed, and America's particular list of
problems can seen overwhelming at times. In Sylvia's
view, though, these are opportunities for improving
ourselves through service. Her advice? "Number one
is not to try to take it all on." Instead, she counsels,
"Say 'What is the one thing I can do?' and enjoy doing
it. I think that's the most important thing, not to do it
just out of a sense of guilt or obligation. It's got to be
a real enrichment in our lives." With words like these,
backed by a lifetime of good work, Sister Sylvia reminds
us that sowing should have as prominent a role in the
American dream as reaping. And as we sow, I think she
would agree, so shall we all reap. Everyone in this book offered their personal take on
the American dream, and their ideas were as diverse as
they. All, however, were dedicated reamers, in the best
possible sense. Perhaps because of his youth, it was
Josh [Marcus] who provided the most Utopian, the
most impossibly beautiful vision. "I think the American
dream is for a prefect society," he said plainly. "For
everybody to be equal. For everybody to have the same
opportunities in life. For the rich to give back to the poor,
and for the poor to help themselves. And everyone
getting along and having lots of peace." Thank you, Josh,
for the answer. If I had to pick just one, that would be it.
Rating:
Summary: The Dream is Real!
Review: This book attempts to discover what the "American Dream" really is to many Americans. It does so by providing brief accounts of the lives of some Americans, some famous you will recognize, some not at all famous. Dan Rather is obviously an excellent reader and in this book you will hear his "real" voice with a sometime slight and sometimes not so slight Texas drawl. You will hear it strongly when he pronounces the word "school". Even though at times the book drags a little I enjoyed it immensely and will probably listen to it again. Most of the stories are great to listen to and it reminds me of talking at "old guy" in the park. The history lesson is wonderful and the "dream" is real. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American History. ....
Rating:
Summary: The Dream is Real!
Review: This book attempts to discover what the "American Dream" really is to many Americans. It does so by providing brief accounts of the lives of some Americans, some famous you will recognize, some not at all famous. Dan Rather is obviously an excellent reader and in this book you will hear his "real" voice with a sometime slight and sometimes not so slight Texas drawl. You will hear it strongly when he pronounces the word "school". Even though at times the book drags a little I enjoyed it immensely and will probably listen to it again. Most of the stories are great to listen to and it reminds me of talking at "old guy" in the park. The history lesson is wonderful and the "dream" is real. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American History. ....
Rating:
Summary: The Dream is Real
Review: This book attempts to discover what the "American Dream" really is to many Americans. It does so by providing brief accounts of the lives of some Americans, some famous you will recognize, some not at all famous. Dan Rather is obviously an excellent reader and in this book you will hear his "real" voice with a sometime slight and sometimes not so slight Texas drawl. You will hear it strongly when he pronounces the word "school". Even though at times the book drags a little I enjoyed it immensely and will probably listen to it again. Most of the stories are great to listen to and it reminds me of talking at "old guy" in the park. The history lesson is wonderful and the "dream" is real. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American History. If you are not an American and are not interested in American history this book will be less interesting. If fact, I think it is necessary to be an American to enjoy the book but at least one Canadian liked it (see below). Just my opinion. I listened to the book from 6 CD's converted to MP3.
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