Hampton Sides examines the many and varied subcultures that make up our great nation. In his book Americana he collected essays that reveal glimpses of the American psyche that we keep hidden from the rest of the world. Through these revelations we meet the true American behind the veil. Our personality as interpreted by the rest of the world fails to show how eclectic our society really is. By writing these essays, Hampton shows our true selves in a vivid and well-written way. His passion for the written word is evident in his approach to the topic of what it truly means to be an American. In "The Birdman Drops In" we meet the growing subculture of skateboard fanatics. One of the fastest growing segments of the population thanks to the cult of youth, vitality and extreme sports. Many people maintain a connection to the sport that stems from the history of skating in the early days. What was once just a group of kids skating in dried-up pools has now become one of the most popular events at the X Games. Skateboarding influenced new sports like snowboarding and even changed the way modern surfers surf the waves. We also meet Tony Hawk; the man behind the phenomenon Tony Hawk, Inc. Tony had the greatest influence in the success of the skateboard industry. Generations of kids consider him an inspiration to emulate. He retained his childlike enthusiasm for his sport and became a true leader. He manages to maintain his appeal to the young skater by remaining faithful to the sport. Much of Hawk's fame comes from his perfectionist attitude towards skating. He trains and practices for several hours just to perfect a new trick. Thanks to his dedication, life on the skateboard... at the center of the paper... the story of our people, our lives and our dreams. He writes with vivid descriptions and objectivity to get to the heart of the matter. His book is a collection of the true American spirit and our unique way of life. Works CitedSides, Hampton. American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---"The Birdman Arrives." American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“Woodstock in Leathers”. American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“A murder in Faulkner”. American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“Sisters of the Bowl”. American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“Jerusalem on the Mississippi.” American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“This is not the right place”. American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print.---“Now let's praise famous fish.” American. New York: Random House. 2004. Print