The Immigrant Spirit

The Immigrant Spirit: How Newcomers Enrich America What do the CEOs of two of the world's most iconically American companies, Pepsi and Coca-Cola, have in common? Indra Nooyi (India) and Muhtar Kent (Turkey) are both immigrants. How about the founders and cofounders of Google, Intel, Sun Microsystems, eBay, and Yahoo? How about Madeleine Albright and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elia Kazan, and countless others, including about one third of all U.S. Nobel Prize laureates? Author Sam Wyly reminds us that all but the American Indians are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. The Immigrant Spirit: How Newcomers Enrich America illustrates a simple theme: Immigrants are assets to American society and the economy. And, they always have been. Wyly presents a fascinating, often surprising portrait of the immigrant experience in America, focusing on communities throughout the country and people from all walks of life and parts of the world. Readers will enjoy colorful portraits of diverse cities like Houston, Texas, which Wyly dubs "the new face of immigrant America." They'll discover inspiring stories like those of Albert Gallatin, a French-speaking Swiss immigrant who became our longest-serving Secretary of the Treasury, and Bill Knudsen, a Dane who accepted one of the most important stateside jobs in World War II, helping to seal victory for America. What is it about America that continues to bring people here? How is it that the immigrant experience in America continues to be defined by optimism, resilience, and triumph? Weaving historical anecdotes with present-day realities of immigration, Wyly skillfully brings to life his particular vision of immigrants: They are natural risk-takers and innovators. They are great patriots and entrepreneurs. They are essential to a strong economy. Richly illustrated with colorful images, timelines, factoids, and graphs--and filled with inspiring quotes and ideas from writers, entrepreneurs, and others--The Immigrant Spirit will change the way you think about what it means to be an American today.