This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women

The American Dream refers to the ideological belief that the USA is a land of opportunity and equality where anyone can achieve upward mobility through hard work and determination, regardless of the circumstances of their birth. It is often associated with the American Declaration of Independence, particularly the line that all men are entitled to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” although the specific phrase “the American Dream” was first coined in James Truslow Adams’s 1931 book The Epic of America. The specific characteristics of the American Dream as well as the general public attitude towards it have varied over the course of American history, and the concept is sometimes criticized for ignoring the systemic issues, such as poverty and racism, that can seriously hinder social mobility. The American Dream features prominently—either explicitly or implicitly—in many of the essays presented in this book.

CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly referred to as CBS, is an American commercial broadcasting network founded in 1927. The original 1950s This I Believe radio program hosted by Edward R. Murrow—from which a number of essays featured in this book were sourced—was broadcast on the CBS network. The founder and then-CEO of CBS, William S.