Ethnic America: A History

"Ethnic America" by Thomas Sowell provides a comprehensive historical and sociological overview of several major American ethnic groups, including the Irish, Germans, Jews, Chinese, Japanese, Black Americans, Puerto Ricans, and Mexican Americans. It examines the massive diversity of the American population, noting that no single group constitutes a majority, and details the unique cultural backgrounds, patterns of immigration, and geographic distribution for each group. The text discusses factors influencing their socioeconomic progress, such as education, occupational skills, cultural values (like attitudes toward charity and education), and the impact of discrimination and political involvement throughout American history, often using comparisons in income, IQ, and family structure to illustrate varying rates of assimilation and success.