[ book tip by Michael Boyle ] Americans Do, Europeans Be

This book is like a sandwich. The beginning and the end are dated, unfocused, non-enlightening. The first chapters were spent with the author describing the philosophical differences between Europe and the US. I don't disagree with his comments (for the most part), but unfortunately there was nothing new or insightful. In addition, Rifkin does not take the time to describe the possible differences within the 'European Dream' taking into account a North-South divide or the Central European countries...just to name a few.

The author most likely would have written another book (or maybe he would have skipped the exercise) after the constitution fiasco of 2005. Some of Rifkin's observations were totally off the mark (e.g. 35 hour work week in France).

Lastly, it was never quite clear to me what the 'dream' was really supposed to be.

The middle was excellent. Rifkin provides a superb narrative of the history of European commerce, provides the background of what constitutes the 'American Dream, and performs a meaningful analysis of the economic developments between the US and Europe through the 18th and 19th century.

[ Favourite quote ] After Italian state unification in 1861, Massimo d'Azeglio, the former prime minister of Piedmont, was said to have remarked, "We have made Italy, now we need to make Italians."

[ book info ] Rifkin, Jeremy: The European Dream. How Europe's Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing The American Dream . (Book language: English) Penguin, New York, 2004 (2004). ISBN: 1-58542-345-9.