Blog Post 7 - Book 1 Post 2 - American Like Me

The book I decided to read is American Like Me by America Ferrera. I chose to read this book because I was really intrigued by the book's layout. I thought that I personally would enjoy that there are several stories being told in this book by different people and perspectives. Having knowledge on public figures and their accomplishments, as well as their struggles, can be beneficial. I think it's inspiring for the reader and also gives you a great deal of knowledge which could be useful for someone like me who works in the music industry, an industry that is centered around knowing history and knowing people as well as being able to network. 

America Ferrera’s book is a collection of essays composed of herself and 31 other public figures. The novel features voices of everyone from actors to activists. However, while all of them have very different backgrounds and upbringings, they all have similar shared experiences that almost string together a discussion on what culture means in the United States. I read the introduction first and then more about America Ferrera's story. From there, I jumped around and read sections depending on what public figure struck my interest. I really enjoyed learning about America Ferrera and her upbringing. I had always heard her name here and there but never really knew much about her. As someone who was also intrigued by the context of her name in and of itself, I am happy that I got to learn more about where it came from and what her experience has been like living in the United States with a name like America. After that, I immediately jumped to Liza Koshy as she is one of my favorite celebrities so the name caught my eye. 

Overall, I really loved that I was able to jump around the book in any which way I wanted to. American Like Me is not a book with rules or constraints. You don’t have to read the whole thing to understand or gain insight from the book. This makes it much easier for someone like me who struggles to focus while reading. Honestly, this format was game-changing and I wish more books were written this way. That being said, the more you read, the more life stories you get to hear so it is beneficial to finish the book in its entirety. However, the format definitely makes it feel less daunting of a read than a traditional book with chapters might be for the non- readers. I honestly have no complaints because of it, other than I would have loved to hear more from other public figures that I know and admire. Therefore, I would recommend this book as I believe it is an easy read for anyone.