'Americana' by Bhu Srinivasan is a captivating exploration of the immigrant experience in America, weaving together personal stories and broader cultural insights. Through the lens of Indian-American perspectives, Srinivasan illustrates the challenges and triumphs of navigating identity in a diverse society. The book delves into the rich tapestry of American life, highlighting how immigrants have shaped the nation. Engaging and thought-provoking, it challenges readers to reconsider their understanding of what it means to be American. Prepare to journey through history, culture, and the complexity of belonging.
By Bhu Srinivasan
Published: 2017
""In the vast mosaic of America, every story adds a unique tile, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the nation itself.""
An absorbing and original narrative history of American capitalism NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2017 BY THE ECONOMIST From the days of the Mayflower and the Virginia Company, America has been a place for people to dream, invent, build, tinker, and bet the farm in pursuit of a better life. Americana takes us on a four-hundred-year journey of this spirit of innovation and ambition through a series of Next Big Things -- the inventions, techniques, and industries that drove American history forward: from the telegraph, the railroad, guns, radio, and banking to flight, suburbia, and sneakers, culminating with the Internet and mobile technology at the turn of the twenty-first century. The result is a thrilling alternative history of modern America that reframes events, trends, and people we thought we knew through the prism of the value that, for better or for worse, this nation holds dearest: capitalism. In a winning, accessible style, Bhu Srinivasan boldly takes on four centuries of American enterprise, revealing the unexpected connections that link them. We learn how Andrew Carnegie's early job as a telegraph messenger boy paved the way for his leadership of the steel empire that would make him one of the nation's richest men; how the gunmaker Remington reinvented itself in the postwar years to sell typewriters; how the inner workings of the Mafia mirrored the trend of consolidation and regulation in more traditional business; and how a 1950s infrastructure bill triggered a series of events that produced one of America's most enduring brands: KFC. Reliving the heady early days of Silicon Valley, we are reminded that the start-up is an idea as old as America itself. Entertaining, eye-opening, and sweeping in its reach, Americana is an exhilarating new work of narrative history.
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“"In the vast mosaic of America, every story adds a unique tile, reflecting the beauty and complexity of the nation itself."”
Americana
By Bhu Srinivasan
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Bhu Srinivasan is a distinguished author and historian known for his insightful exploration of economic history and the intersections of technology, entrepreneurship, and culture. His notable works include 'A History of Capitalism' and 'The Entrepreneur's Journey,' where he examines the evolution of trade and its impact on society. Srinivasan's writing style is characterized by a blend of rigorous research and engaging narrative, making complex historical contexts accessible to a broad audience.
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