Authoritative, current, and accessible -- yet scholastically rigorous -- this anthology of personal stories, timely essays, social science readings, and informative educational resources provides a social, economic, and cultural overview of Asian Americans, relates the experiences of Asian Americans, and explores a variety of contemporary social issues deeply affecting Asian Americans. Designed to encourage readers to think critically about social issues facing Asian Americans, it implicitly advances a multi-cultural, comparative, interdisciplinary approach to viewing the Asian American experience, and exposes readers to major theoretical perspectives as well as the latest statistical data on Asian Americans. Offers a wide variety of content material from various political, social, and cultural viewpoints on major contemporary social issues facing Asian Americans -- all written by experts in their fields. Readings cover topic areas such as: Identity and Community in the Shaping of Asian Americans; Asian American History: An Overview; The Contemporary Demography and Socio-Economic Conditions of Asian Americans; Theories about Asian Americans and American Race and Ethnic Relations; Critical Perspectives of the Asian American Experience; Auto-Biographical Experiences of Asian American; Asian Pacific Communities -- Past and Present; Educational Issues; Employment and Occupation; Popular Culture, Imagery, and Stereotypes; Identity, Family, and Culture; Race, Gender, and Culture; Political Empowerment of Asian Americans; and Future Directions of Asian Americans Educational Resources. For anyone interested in the issues, history, and experiences of Asian Pacific Americans.