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Edward Bok (1863-1930) was born with the name Den Helder in the Netherlands. He immigrated to the United States when he was seven years old, and at the age of 23 formed the Bok Syndicate to publish the sermons of noted minister Henry Ward Beecher (1813-87). Eventually he developed a syndicated women's features column called the "Bok page," and served as editor-in-chief of Ladie's Home Journal from 1889 to 1919. Bok became involved in a number of public causes, and in 1923 established the Bok Peace Prize. His autobiography, The Americanization of Edward Bok, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1920.

Bok devoted the last two chapters of his autobiography to summing up, first of all, "Where America Fell Short with Me," and finally, "What 1 Owe to America." Both in his complaints and in his words of praise, Bok reflects the spirit of a Dutch immigrant who has never forgotten the conditions of life in his...