What separates human beings from animals are the intellect, power to reason, and the mind - the greatest work of God. Human beings are the same in every part of the world. Their nature, instincts, feelings, emotions and desires are all the same. Yet a great barrier separates them bringing an amazing contrast between them - that of culture. It is this cultural aspect of life that is the inspiration behind the book. How and why are the questions raised, and adequately answered. This book touches every human being in every society, irrespective of the diversity. The focus is mainly on the variation between the Eastern and the Western culture. Why are the Eastern people so different from the Western people? How come their cultures are really worlds apart? The people, parted by their geographical locations, are certainly quite hostile to each other. Easterners crossing over to the Western world as immigrants are treated quite adversely. They have their own solid reasons for immigrating as well as what do they see in the Western culture? What is the motive behind most Westerners hostile behavior towards them? In this aspect the ugly faces of discrimination and classification enter the scene. The book delves into these increasingly significant problems of life. The experiences and feelings of migrants into the Western world have been very realistically and poignantly depicted. The very serious problems they face when integrating into a totally alien culture and adjusting to it and the equally serious repercussions on their children, who are caught between the two cultures, are highlighted. What are the roots then of such children and what is their real culture? Deep in their hearts and minds they are surely aware of the problem of their identity and their future. All the problems of immigrants and equally the problems of the Westerners have been discussed in the book. Moreover, the Eastern people have a certain reputation. It is really astonishing to see so much difference in customs, traditions and habits in human kind. Also, the lack of technology and resources that have earned some countries the title - The Third world- is one of the greatest problems of the world nowadays. It also accounts for the lack of confidence on the part of the Easterners and in contrast the over-confidence of the Westerners. The book provides the most beautiful solution to bridge this gap and also prompts the readers to think seriously about this solution. Human beings are supposed to live in harmony and peace with as little difference as possible. Has anyone seriously thought about the concept of liberty? Indeed, everyone is aware of the contrast in the so-called liberty of the West and none whatsoever in the East. The liberalism of the West is termed in the book as 'Miserable liberty' with solid reasons and facts of life to prove it. "Excess of everything is bad" is an apt maxim quoted in the book. On the other hand, the restrictions in the Eastern culture are always taken in the negative. Again there is the frustration factor which is equally prevalent in both cultures in different ways. No one has really researched into these vital problems facing everyone equally, both from the Western world and the Eastern world. Each side has great misconception about the other and has an established reputation existing, due to which the expatriates have the problem of a double survival in a totally alien, quite hostile world. The book contains the real problems of real people and discusses the possible remedies. It repeatedly stresses constructive thinking on the part of very single human being and the need to practically search for the right solutions to make this world a lovely place to live". The book is an amalgamation of all these points and more. It explores deep insights into human nature. Selfishness, artificiality at the expense of other people is very much in abundance. Materialism is the order of the day. But are not we still in denial of these inherent human behaviors? Why has not civilization yet conquered these adverse values? More detailed aspects of human behavior and the concepts of human rights mentioned in the book certainly would make the reader seriously think on these human issues and why they are so. Civilization is perhaps at stake. Another most vital point discussed is the portrayal of religion and why are people going astray from it? Why is there no unity in the Muslims and why do they show the most artificial face of Islam? Christianity has evolved changes - today, we see conversions of churches into discos and clubs. Has anyone really thought about these indispensable issues? Again, has anyone noticed the fact that usually people, after obtaining their goals, tend to forget God? Also has not it become the custom to complain about God? Though there is so much progress in the world and so much advanced technology to make the lives of the people more comfortable, yet rarely are people seen to be satisfied and content. The book points out how to obtain peace in life, which is everyones ultimate goal. Are these cultural differences, opinions or discrimination? The book evolves all these essential and vital issues of life and stresses the utmost need to try and save our societies . After reading this book, the reader would be more aware of issues which are staring us in the face, but sadly very few people are really working on their solutions. For more information please visit www.suleri.nl

What is black culture? Does it have an essence? What do we lose and gain by assuming that it does, and by building our laws accordingly? This bold and provocative book questions the common presumption of political multiculturalism that social categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality are defined by distinctive cultural practices. Richard Ford argues against law reform proposals that would attempt to apply civil rights protections to "cultural difference." Unlike many criticisms of multiculturalism, which worry about "reverse discrimination" or the erosion of core Western cultural values, the book's argument is primarily focused on the adverse effects of multicultural rhetoric and multicultural rights on their supposed beneficiaries. In clear and compelling prose, Ford argues that multicultural accounts of cultural difference do not accurately describe the practices of social groups. Instead these accounts are prescriptive: they attempt to canonize a narrow, parochial, and contestable set of ideas about appropriate group culture and to discredit more cosmopolitan lifestyles, commitments, and values. The book argues that far from remedying discrimination and status hierarchy, "cultural rights" share the ideological presuppositions, and participate in the discursive and institutional practices, of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Ford offers specific examples in support of this thesis, in diverse contexts such as employment discrimination, affirmative action, and transracial adoption. This is a major contribution to our understanding of today's politics of race, by one of the most distinctive and important young voices in America's legal academy.

As the population of older Americans grows, it is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse. Differences in health by racial and ethnic status could be increasingly consequential for health policy and programs. Such differences are not simply a matter of education or ability to pay for health care. For instance, Asian Americans and Hispanics appear to be in better health, on a number of indicators, than White Americans, despite, on average, lower socioeconomic status. The reasons are complex, including possible roles for such factors as selective migration, risk behaviors, exposure to various stressors, patient attitudes, and geographic variation in health care. This volume, produced by a multidisciplinary panel, considers such possible explanations for racial and ethnic health differentials within an integrated framework. It provides a concise summary of available research and lays out a research agenda to address the many uncertainties in current knowledge. It recommends, for instance, looking at health differentials across the life course and deciphering the links between factors presumably producing differentials and biopsychosocial mechanisms that lead to impaired health.

Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults describes what is meant by the term young adulthood, who young adults are, what they are doing, and what they need. This study recommends actions that nonprofit programs and federal, state, and local agencies can take to help young adults make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. According to this report, young adults should be considered as a separate group from adolescents and older adults. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults makes the case that increased efforts to improve high school and college graduate rates and education and workforce development systems that are more closely tied to high-demand economic sectors will help this age group achieve greater opportunity and success. The report also discusses the health status of young adults and makes recommendations to develop evidence-based practices for young adults for medical and behavioral health, including preventions. What happens during the young adult years has profound implications for the rest of the life course, and the stability and progress of society at large depends on how any cohort of young adults fares as a whole. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults will provide a roadmap to improving outcomes for this age group as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Features "Race, Culture, and Equality, " an essay written by Thomas Sowell and presented online by the Hoover Institution based at Stanford University. The essay discusses the economic and social impacts of cultural differences among peoples and nations around the world.

Thirty years of progress on civil rights and a new era of immigration to the United States have together created an unprecedented level of diversity in American schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods. But increased contact among individuals from different racial and ethnic groups has not put an end to misunderstanding and conflict. On the contrary, entrenched cultural differences raise vexing questions about the limits of American pluralism. Can a population of increasingly mixed origins learn to live and work together despite differing cultural backgrounds? Or, is social polarization by race and ethnicity inevitable? These are the dilemmas explored in Cultural Divides, a compendium of the latest research into the origins and nature of group conflict, undertaken by a distinguished group of social psychologists who have joined forces to examine the effects of culture on social life. Cultural Divides shows how new lines of investigation into intergroup conflict shape current thinking on such questions as: Why are people so strongly prone to attribute personal differences to group membership rather than to individual nature? Why are negative beliefs about other groups so resistent to change, even with increased contact? Is it possible to struggle toward equal status for all people and still maintain separate ethnic identities for culturally distinct groups? Cultural Divides offers new theories about how social identity comes to be rooted in groups: Some essays describe the value of group membership for enhancing individual self-esteem, while others focus on the belief in social hierarchies, or the perception that people of different skin colors and ethnic origins fall into immutably different categories. Among the phenomena explored are the varying degrees of commitment and identification felt by many black students toward their educational institutions, the reasons why social stigma affects the self-worth of some minority groups more than others, and the peculiar psychology of hate crime perpetrators. The way cultural boundaries can impair our ability to resolve disputes is a recurrent theme in the volume. An essay on American cultures of European, Asian, African, and Mexican origin examines core differences in how each traditionally views conflict and its proper methods of resolution. Another takes a hard look at the multiculturalist agenda and asks whether it can realistically succeed. Other contributors describe the effectiveness of social experiments aimed at increasing positive attitudes, cooperation, and conflict management skills in mixed group settings. Cultural Divides illuminates the beliefs and attitudes that people hold about themselves in relation to others, and how these social thought processes shape the formation of group identity and intergroup antagonism. In so doing, Cultural Divides points the way toward a new science of cultural contact and confronts issues of social change that increasingly affect all Americans.

The Psychology of Diversity presents a captivating social-psychological study of diversity, the obstacles confronting it, and the benefits it provides. Goes beyond prejudice and discrimination to discuss the personal and social implications of diversity for both majority and minority group members Considers how historical, political, economic, and societal factors shape the way people think about and respond to diversity Explains why discrimination leads to bias at all levels in society – interpersonal, institutional, cultural, and social Describes proven techniques for improving intergroup relations Examines the brain's impact on bias in clear terms for students with little or no background in neuroscience Includes helpful study tools throughout the text as well as an online instructor’s manual