I have read James Fallows for years and listened intently to his radio reports from China. He discovered great hope and vibrant change in a developing China. As he found in China, there is hope and increasing development in a changing America. Not in the great cities, but in small town USA, in the rebuilding of rusting manufacturing towns, in college towns, and in the farm towns of the great plains. For the highly educated urbanites of our country who showed themselves to be so out of touch with “fly-over” country and blue-collar workers, this book is a must read. It shows the resilience and determination of town and village dwellers to rebuilt the American Dream.
Two things stood out for me. First, there is far less nationalism and xenophobia in places where immigrants have settled and have proven themselves the key to a rebirth of small-town America. I have myself witnessed more immigrant hatred among those who have no acquaintance with refugees and other immigrants.
Second, I see that college towns and especially those places with career and technical colleges are fueling a revitalized economy and have made small towns livable and attractive. What we used to call “Junior Colleges” like the excellent Palm Beach Junior College (now Palm Beach College) that I attended briefly are focused not on social class climbing but on the type of education urgently needed in our workforce.
All in all, I think the book works best as a travelogue rather than as social commentary. It is an enjoyable read but light on making a point.
Two Strikes 