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| Ask a Mexican | 
 enlarge | Author: Gustavo Arellano
Publisher: Scribner
Category: Book
List Price: $13.00
Buy New: $4.77
You Save: $8.23 (63%)
Buy New/Used from $3.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (35 reviews)
Sales Rank: 26316
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 272
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.2 x 0.7
ISBN: 1416540032
Dewey Decimal Number: 305
EAN: 9781416540038
ASIN: 1416540032
Publication Date: April 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
DEAR MEXICAN:WHAT IS ASK A MEXICAN! ? Questions and answers about our spiciest Americans. I explore the cliches of lowriders, busboys, and housekeepers; drunks and scoundrels; heroes and celebrities; and most important, millions upon millions of law-abiding, patriotic American citizens and their illegal-immigrant cousins who represent some $600 billion in economic power. WHY SHOULD I READ ASK A MEXICAN! ? At 37 million strong (or 13 percent of the U.S. population), Latinos have become America's largest minority -- and beaners make up some two-thirds of that number. I confront the bogeymen of racism, xenophobia, and ignorance prompted by such demographic changes through answering questions put to me by readers of my Ask a Mexican! column in California's OC Weekly. I challenge you to find a more entertaining way to immerse yourself in Mexican culture that doesn't involve a taco-and-enchilada combo. OKAY, WHY DO MEXICANS PARK THEIR CARS ON THE FRONT LAWN? Where do you want us to park them? The garage we rent out to a family of five? The backyard where we put up our recently immigrated cousins in tool-shack-cum-homes? The street with the red curbs recently approved by city planners? The driveway covered with construction materials for the latest expansion of la casa? The nearby school parking lot frequented by cholos on the prowl for a new radio? The lawn is the only spot Mexicans can park their cars without fear of break-ins, drunken crashes, or an unfortunate keying. Besides, what do you think protects us from drive-bys? The cops?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...
 Everything you wanted to know but... October 28, 2008
Seriously, everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask! This book is hilarious! It makes a great gift as well. My husband still references it a year later!
 Someone has put into words what Mexican Americans all know October 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love how Arellanos backs his slams to the bigot with humor and facts. When the facts are in danger of becoming a dry read, he slaps on the humor that we all must have in light of the racism that still resides in the OC. His writing makes me hungry for more laughs accompanied by a bowl of Posole and tequila!
Ask A Mexican July 17, 2008
I found this book by accident and ended up reading it in a couple of days. I loved it so much I'm passing it on to others to read. This author is hilarious and I wish he'd write another edition.
The Mexican as myth debunker and provider of historical context June 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Gustavo Arellano's "Ask a Mexican" is a brilliant book. What's obvious when reading a book's length worth of his answers is how well-researched they are. It's a nice balance of referenced scholarship, combined with the observations of a street-savvy guy. First-time readers beware though: Arellano's work is culled from columns that appear in alternative weeklies, and it's got the language to prove it. It can be jarring and off-putting at times. However, most times it works, because the questions match in tone.
Arellano's main role here is as myth debunker and as one who tries to put Mexican immigration in a historical context for his readers. I've selected this passage from p. 40 as emblematic of his approach. A reader writes "Why don't Mexicans want to assimilate and accept our way of life?" The Mexican answers (in part) that "(i)n the case of reverence for one's roots, it boils down thusly: gabachos long-removed from Ellis Island can love their ancestors without shame because they're the descendants of immigrants, and immigrants made this nation great; Mexicans can't because they _are_ immigrants, and immigrants are turning America into the Third World."
Like that opinion or not, you have to give Arellano credit for superbly crafted sentences like that. The book is rife with them. It makes for a great read.
THIS IS SO FUNNY!!! June 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Oh my God , This dude is so funny.
I LOVE THIS BOOK
Mike,
Whittier, CA.
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