Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing

A compilation of some of the best readings about various issues that surround society, education, success, and gender, Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing (ISBN 9780312548544) is a collection of compelling selections from diverse genres. Each chapter includes at least one selection of how a certain myth or issue is sold by the media. Colombo, Cullen, and Lisle's approach is very effective in encouraging students to delve deeper into the conflicting views about some of the most popular cultural myths in the society. The first chapter of the book includes selections about the myth of the model family, while Chapter 2 compiles readings about education and empowerment. Chapter 3 is all about money, success, and opportunity, while Chapter 4 includes selections on equality, like Causes of Prejudice by Vincent N. Parrillo, and Models of American Ethnic Relations: A Historical Perspective by George M. Fredrickson. The fifth chapter talks about the myths of gender, and the last chapter offers selections about American myths of nature. Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing reflects on these societal myths in a very effective and non-biased manner, especially since the authors selected readings from all possible margins and disciplines. Authored by Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle, it remains one of the most used texts in this niche. Lead author Gary Colombo teaches English at Los Angeles City College and also wrote Mind Readings: An Anthology for Writers. He co-authored Frame Work: Culture, Storytelling and College Writing, with Bonnie Lisle, who joins Sandra Mano in contributing to this edition. Robert Cullen is also an English professor of many courses in American literature, composition, and American studies.