When Ways of Life Collide: Multiculturalism and Its Discontents in the Netherlands Book

Although published in 2006, I still found this book helpful in providing an introduction to the major immigrant communities in Minnesota. There are chapters on the Hmong, Somalis, Ethiopians and Hispanics.

I was afraid the book would be dense with facts and maybe a little more "work" than I was interested in for a summer read. I was pleasantly surprised with the style, which consisted of excerpts from writing (interviews) that the author had completed during his work with the Associated Press.

I appreciated that the book didn't seem to have a particular agenda other than illuminating the immigrant experience. The discussions of assimilation and diaspora tugged me out of my sci-fi reading haze, giving these concepts new meaning and application in real-life.

Not to miss is the Epilogue. There were several themes that appeared throughout the chapters/stories that the author draws together(e.g. generational conflict, isolation, hope, contribution). I would have probably missed them had he not shown a spotlight on them in this closure. More tangibly, I now have a new appreciation for the challenges faced by the MN Department of Health. I can also better appreciate KFAI and Lake Street!