My academic identity is that of a folklorist, and for many years I have taught only folklore courses.

Life, it seems, is nothing if not a series of initiations, transitions, and incorporations.

Ancestor worship, or filial piety so characteristic of Asian cultures, for example, does not really resonate with Americans who favor children, not grandparents.

Americans have a penchant for the future and tend to disregard the past.

Future orientation is combined with a notion and expectation of progress, and nothing is impossible.

Cities all over the world are getting bigger as more and more people move from rural to urban sites, but that has created enormous problems with respect to environmental pollution and the general quality of life.

Americans often have trouble enjoying the present moment.