Guardians of the Dream

Book excerpt: WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM? Is opportunity still available for those who work hard and play by the rules? Guardians of the Dream offers an inspiring view of our nation's promise, which for the past two centuries has been championed by the legion of America's immigrants. Paul Hsu, a business leader and entrepreneur who has built several successful companies, counters the negative narratives by recalling his own journey and those of others who have found the path to opportunity in a country that is like no other. Born in Taiwan, Hsu came to the United States as a young man and found a land where anything was possible. He writes movingly of his family's experience, recalling that "our lives were often hard, but we didn't feel put upon. We didn't think our struggle was unfair, because my wife and I knew that it was only one step along the road. It took some time, but we succeeded. We had a belief that America had great opportunities and that if we made sacrifices and stayed