Chapters 17 and 18 Summary and Analysis

In Chapter 17, as he pursued a writing career, L'Amour had been reading approximately 100 books a year. He found that there was a scarcity of books about Asia and Africa. He relied on students to give him translations or retell the stories to him. He had students relate the contents of the works of Confucius, Mencius and other philosophers and poets of Asia. He especially enjoyed the fiction of China. America will soon need to expand its focus beyond Europe to China, India, Pakistan and Southeast Asia. Understanding these cultures and their history will benefit the nation. Schools typically have a narrow focus that does not include study of these cultures.

The country needs leaders who see beyond the next election and beyond their narrow special interests. The potential of space travel must be given serious consideration—even the...