American Dream: Stories from the Heart of Our Nation

In this inspirational new book, Dan Rather goes out in search of the American Dream. Through interviews with ordinary people in pursuit of the extraordinary, he reveals the diversity of the Dream as seen and realized by Americans of all races, classes, and creed, giving flesh-and-blood reality to the lofty words so often used to describe our national aspirations.

Here are those who have persevered to make their hopes reality—whether pursuing personal success or looking to make a difference for siciety—including Nosrat Scott, who escaped religious intolerance in Iran in order to practice her faith openly in America; Curtis Aikens, who overcame illiteracy to become a literacy advocate, chef, and author; Delores Kesler, who survived poverty to found a corporation worth $3 billion; and 10-year-old Joshua Marcus, who started a nonprofit company that provides supplies to poor schools.

A powerful examination of how our nation's earliest ideals resonate in today's world, The American Dream shows us in very personal terms that America is still a place where hard work, dedication, and vision can transform dreams into reality.