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From the celebrated magazine of international writing, twelve sharp global perspectives on a changing United States, with an introduction by the Dial's editor in chief, Madeleine Schwartz
The 2024 U.S. presidential election reverberated internationally, a
global event whose outcome has already reshaped trade, migration,
security, and rising authoritarianism across the world. Inside the United
States, we are swamped by the news cycle; but how does the wider world
see and interpret what is happening under Trump?
In How We See It, twelve of the most talented and insightful journalists
from around the world probe their home countries’ complex relationship
with the United States—and how this has swerved under the new administration.
A diverse, international cast of writers examines how Turkey’s
recent history helps us understand America’s slide into autocracy, how
Argentina’s century-long obsession with the dollar has changed under
Trump, anti-American tourism sentiment in Italy, and what right-wing
Americans get wrong about South Africa. Essays in the collection also
look at how Taiwan is navigating the uncertainty of Trump’s response in
the event of a Chinese invasion and the newly fraught view of the U.S.
from Canada.
Featuring pieces commissioned by The Dial, the award-winning
magazine, How We See It shifts and expands our frame of reference,
our self-awareness, and our understanding of how much our world has
changed since the election of 2024.
Praise for How We See It:
“These fascinating outsider perspectives not only ground American problems in wider trends, but often show the U.S. as responsible for worsening conditions elsewhere. The result is a much-needed reality check.”—Publishers Weekly
“These varied essays are a spark for further conversation about how other nations perceive the U.S.”—Library Journal
“To read this rich, subtle, and moving anthology is to be reminded that it is often foreigners who understand us best, and that if the ‘American experiment’ in democracy is to survive, we had better pay attention to how they see it.”—Adam Shatz, author of The Rebel’s Clinic: The Revolutionary Lives of Frantz Fanon
“America’s hubris and myopia often make it hard for us to know ourselves. That is why throughout our history Americans have relied on writers from outside the country to tell us the cold hard truth. How We See It is the literary equivalent of an ice plunge—Americans who read it may be initially stunned but will emerge from the experience refreshed, invigorated, and ready to take on the huge challenges before us.”—Joel Simon, the founding director of the Journalism Protection Initiative at the Newmark Journalism School
“How We See It is a compelling new book by some of today’s most promising authors and investigative journalists. The work is thoughtfully structured and timely. Not only do the contributors depict the iconography of American exceptionalism, but they also explain how global politics views and reflects the United States today. Whether it is the pounding of the far right’s drumbeat or the bitterness tied to exile, this is a sober work of nonfiction, a profound exploration of how we are all confronting the terrible toll of social crisis. The authors carefully examine and reflect on politics beyond just headlines and abstraction, offering historical and moral clarity. At the same time, we navigate the steeliness of hope and the desire for repair. How We See It is an essential read.”—Edna Bonhomme, author of Tending to Our Wounds: A Diasporic Memoir
Founded in 2023, The Dial is an online magazine of culture, politics, and ideas, with a focus on local writing from around the world.