“The Middle of Everywhere: The Worlds Refugees Come to Our Town” summary and critique.

Mary Pipher’s "The Middle of Everywhere" is a wonderfully intelligent book that includes the stories of people of many lands who come to Lincoln, Nebraska, and her personal story as a "cultural broker" who appreciates and respects these people as well. The world has come to my town, also. Pipher writes, "Most of my friends were of European background. As I’ve made friends with people of Mideastern, Latino, African, and Southeast Asia backgrounds, I’ve changed a great deal. I’ve stopped seeing myself as a member of a majority culture. Instead, I see myself as a member of a world culture that flourishes in my hometown." I believe Pipher exemplifies the liking theory demonstrated in Cialdini’s book “Influence” not only in her statement mentioned above but the way that many of us, including myself, see ourselves as part of a majority culture. The liking theory is defined as “we like people who are similar to us…there is a natural human tendency to dislike a person who br...