Blue jeans are globally beloved and quintessentially American. They symbolize everything from the Old West to the hippie counter-culture; everyone from car mechanics to high-fashion models wears jeans. And no name is more associated with blue jeans than Levi Strauss Co.; the creator of this classic American garment.As a young man Levi Strauss left his home in Germany and immigrated to America. He made his way to San Francisco and by 1853 had started his company. Soon he was a leading businessman in a growing commercial city that was beginning to influence the rest of the nation. Family-centered and deeply rooted in his Jewish faith; Strauss was the hub of a wheel whose spokes reached into nearly every aspect of American culture: business; philanthropy; politics; immigration; transportation; education; and fashion.But despite creating an American icon; Levi Strauss is a mystery. Little is known about the man; and the widely circulated "facts" about his life are steeped in mythology. In this first full-length biography; Lynn Downey sets the record straight about this brilliant businessman. Strauss's life was the classic American success story; filled with lessons about craft and integrity; leadership and innovation.
#837563 in Books Eaton Susan E 2016-02-02Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.40 x .90 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 1620970953192 pagesIntegration Nation Immigrants Refugees and America at Its Best
Review
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Hopeful HelpfulBy Susan GliddenI live in Battle Creek; MI; the home of the W.K.Kellogg Foundation; which contributed money for the author to research this book.Ironically; my city does not have the type of integration; so eloquently simply described by the author; for our immigrant communities--far from it. I see far more fear of new immigrants than welcome--except for the one elementary school which is home to the majority of English language learning children.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Susan E. Eaton's INTEGRATION NATION showcases those doing the work to make the United States better for allBy Cyrus WebbWhen it comes to conversations about immigration so many times it is framed as an us against them debate. But is that really the truth?In her book INTEGRATION NATION author Susan E. Eaton literally goes to the people to hear how immigration and the further integration of the United States is being address and the positive strides that are being made to show that we are more united than divided. The cover of the book that I received is amazing depiction of really make up the United States of America; and the book itself seeks to look at how as individuals we can make amazing strides in the work that is done together instead of painting everyone with a broad brush.Regardless of where you might fall in the discussion about immigration as a whole I think it is undeniable that this country has been built and shaped by immigrants who came here seeking something better. Instead of seeing each other as adversaries; Eaton showcases individuals and groups that have been able to identify common themes and ideals and worked to further those.There is truly more that unites us than divides us; and with INTEGRATION NATION we are encouraged to focus on that and think about how we can do our part to make each corner of this country better for us all.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. With Immigration; We Can’t Let This Election Divide UsBy MBushmanElections are inherently divisive; but we don’t have to accept ruptured relationships as predestined outcome. This concept may be particularly important to remember this November.Groundwork for unification starts in our local communities; not simply at the ballot box.The increasing segregation of our nation; and dangers inherent in such separation; led to my first two novels suggesting that we might be only a generation away from risking permanent fracture. Several paths forward are evident; including several highlighted in "Integration Nation: Immigrants; Refugees; and America at its Best" by Brandeis University Professor Susan Eaton.Successful integration projects she highlighted centered around:• community centers in Fort Wayne; Indiana and Hazleton; Pennsylvania (the latter inspired by Chicago Cubs Manager Joe Maddon);• a credit union in North Carolina;• community gardens in Boise; Idaho;• an interfaith initiative in Nebraska; and• study circles in Maryland.In each case; exposure across racial; ethnic and language boundaries helps bridge gaps between long-term residents and immigrants from various parts of the globe. Evidence also continues to be compelling for dual-language immersion programs. I’m convinced the United States needs to adopt these programs across multiple languages—including Mandarin; Spanish; Hindi; Portuguese; Arabic and Russian—to remain competitive as America becomes a smaller percentage of the global economic landscape. In Utah; dual-language immersion programs highlighted by Eaton increased test scores across multiple subjects for children in previously single-language English and Spanish households.While I believe it essential to successfully integrate with anyone living inside our borders; I certainly understand frustration with a clearly broken system that discourages legal immigration while encouraging illegal entry. For its writing and the stories it shares; this book deserves five stars. I settled on four stars only as protest that it didn't tackle the equally hard challenge of identifying the best methods of determining how much immigration makes sense. Clearly; with average income for the lowest-earning 60 percent of U.S. households still below 2008 levels; we have an excess of labor supply that would be a consideration for immigrant entry in a well-functioning immigration system. But taking frustration out on the vast numbers of hardworking; family-oriented immigrants who simply take advantage of the broken system our elected leaders have created and/or failed to administer won’t create the better nation we all seek; as Prof. Eaton clearly identifies.While we make our separate decisions on what type of immigration system we demand going forward; we can certainly acknowledge that beginning or expanding integration work inside our communities will create long-term benefits regardless of who wins in November. This book does a great job of describing multiple paths forward.
