Notes on a Foreign Country encapsulated what was essentially the point of my Modern Middle East and North Africa history class this semester: Americanism is more impactful than we ever give it credit for because most civilians never bother to look for it.

This book mixes memoir-esque narrative style with discussions of the impact of American foreign policy that rarely gets attention from the vast majority of civilians. We live in a state of ignorance, and it sometimes feels like we know less about our country than others around the world do.

I've seen some reviews criticize this book for being anti-American, claiming that it's trying to "virtue-signal" and "self-flagellate," and while I can see where those sentiments are coming from, I don't entirely agree with them. Hansen isn't trying to say that Turkey is a perfect nation with a glittering past corrupted by America; she's trying to change the American perception of Turkey as some third-world country that needs our intervention. The point of the book isn't necessarily to idolize other nations or to tear down America as some monster (although maybe it should be), but it encourages readers, especially American readers, to reflect on the legacy of foreign intervention, specifically in the Cold War years. It's a message meant to point out the patronizing views that America often takes in regards to foreign countries and how these views are often incorrect and stereotypical.

You don't have to take the book entirely word for word. You are allowed to criticize the points it makes, and you are allowed to pick and choose what you agree with. I think it's an important read for many Americans, especially those who haven't quite grasped the full effect of foreign policy on other countries. It's relatively friendly to those not familiar with the complete history of Turkey, and it's an easy read due to its narrative structure. Notes on a Foreign Country would be more aptly titled Notes on America from the Perspective of a Foreign Country, and I think its importance has only grow with recent shifts in global political climate.