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29:56 In his new memoir, Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, Gary Sinise chronicles his never-before-told journey, from aimless teen to an actor/director with a purpose: a mission to support and raise awareness for the men and women who selflessly put themselves in harm’s way in service to our country. Grateful American sets the stage for his passion for veterans, as the reader learns Sinise comes from a long line of servicemen and the military ties don’t end with Sinise’s family. After he got married in 1975, he got to know the many U.S. Army veterans in his wife’s family as well. However, serving one’s country wasn’t in Sinise’s mind as a wild kid growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the 60s and 70s. He was more interested in having fun and getting into trouble than studying and doing schoolwork.
Image credit: Penguin Random House
McHugh says there is a “national bookshelf,” which reflects a varied American identity.
“Americanon: An Unexpected U.S. History in Thirteen Bestselling Books,” is a new book that explores America’s favorite literary works and how they reflect the nation’s collective psyche. Author Jess McHugh looks at American history through the lens of the almanacs, cookbooks and dictionaries that have shaped our universal national experience.
“With time, things become more precious to us … the idea of a national bookshelf could perhaps say something about our country.” Jess McHugh, author of “Americanon: An Unexpected U.S. History in Thirteen Bestselling Books”