The Asian American Century

by Warren I. Cohen

Book Overview

Warren Cohen reviews the role of the United States in East Asia over the past century, making a convincing case for American influence in Asia as generally positive. He illustrates specific ways in which American culture has affected Asians, from forms of government to entertainment, and offers valuable insights into the nature of cultural exchange. Americanization was most successful when Asians freely adopted cultural elements, while efforts...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674007654
• ISBN13: 9780674007659
• Release Date: March 2002
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 7.9"

Customer Reviews

brilliant synthesis

This book is a superb introduction to a complex and broad topic. Contrary to the review in the Library Journal, I do not find the first chapter on the history of US strategy in Asia to be either too simple or too advanced. It has a lot for both the naive and sophisticated reader. And contrary to the other reader reviews, I found the book very balanced, neither condemning nor condoning all the US actions in the region, but explaining their complex evolution.

A Readable Well-Thought Perspective

-- A Readable Well-Thought Perspective --I enjoyed reading Cohen's perspective on Asian-American realtionships; it includes many interesting insights on the historial, current and potential future directions between the the U.S. and Asia. Cohen's extensive dicsussion of U.S.-Japan U.S.-China and U.S.-Korea history helps put todays' world events into perspective. Americans DO tend to view the world through a Eurocentric lens; this books shows a different path. Cohen's (sociological) insights into cultural impacts and exchanges are top notch. This book is a well written, deceivingly light read that packs in many complex ideas into a very readable package. ...and the restaurant tips aren't bad either. ;) Cheers, Patrick