America, Through the Spectacles of an Oriental Diplomat

"America, Through the Spectacles of an Oriental Diplomat" by Tingfang Wu is a detailed look at early 20th-century America as it appeared to an Asian diplomat. It explores the American way of life, political happenings, and core beliefs in the years just before World War I. The author shares why he wanted to write the book, noting the amazing parts of America that he noticed while living there. Wu thinks about how the United States grew from a few small colonies into a strong country and discusses ideas like democracy, problems in society, and the big differences between American and Chinese ways of doing things. He talks about interesting things such as the meaning of names, wealth, people moving to America, education, and liberty, mixing in his own stories and thoughts to talk about values and ways of acting in society. This sets the stage for a full examination of how he sees America, as he wants to accurately show both the good and bad sides of the country.