Andrew E. Manatos. The Extraordinary Greek People: Their Remarkable Achievements and Philosophy for Living from Ancient Times to Today. Traverse City, MI: Mission Point Press. 2022. Pp. 272. Paper $16.95.
The Extraordinary Greek People: Their Remarkable Achievements and Philosophy for Living from Ancient Times to Today portrays how Andrew Manatos, a highly successful professional and prominent Greek American, perceives the concept of "Hellenicity" as a driving force behind personal and professional success. The book is divided into two distinct parts. The first part provides an overview of the cultural achievements of Hellenism over the centuries, with a particular focus on the Greeks of America. These achievements, or accomplishments, which Manatos argues have significantly enhanced human life and even surpassed those of other nations, are attributed to a set of extraordinary traits that are inherently Greek. At the heart of these traits is "philotimo," described as a complex matrix of virtues and the epitome of Hellenism. Manatos identifies "philotimo" as the "secret" behind the success of Greek Americans (43). Acknowledging its broad and abstract nature, the author dedicates many pages to illustrating the concept of "philotimo" through real-life examples. These examples highlight Greek attitudes of noble behavior, selfless generosity, hospitality, and mutual trust—qualities that may exist across cultures but are presented by Manatos as uniquely and distinctively Greek.
The second part of the book shifts the focus to prominent contemporary Greek Americans, who share their personal perspectives on the concept of "Hellenicity." This section is particularly captivating, as it incorporates the immediacy and charm of individual narratives that constitute an ideologically dominant public discourse which largely reproduces and confirms many of the Greek cultural characteristics explored in the first part of the book. Together, the stories illustrate the prevailing narrative in which Greeks in America perceive and project their ethnic and cultural identity.
Manatos views Hellenism as both an inherited quality and, more importantly, a way of life characterized by distinctive and universally acclaimed positive values. "Hellenism is an all-encompassing cultural environment" (xv), he writes, emphasizing its foundation on unique principles that he believes can serve as a guide for organizing modern life. According to Manatos, these "Greek values" have the potential to lead anyone—regardless of ethnic origin—to personal and professional success, economic prosperity, and familial happiness. In this sense, Manatos’s book shares similarities with modern self-help or life-coaching books, offering practical advice, encouragement, and strategies for achieving personal and professional goals. The author acknowledges this parallel, expressing his hope that "the information in this book can help some readers make life choices that might make their lives better" (xvii). As a highly successful person, one who has been associated with American policy making, Manatos rightly considers himself well-positioned to offer such advice. He attributes his success to his Greek heritage and the values instilled in him through that heritage—values in which he takes great pride and seeks to share with others.
Manatos’s portrayal of allegedly unique Greek cultural characteristics reflects and reproduces the prevailing manner by which segments of the Greek American community have historically perceived and expressed their ethnic identity in public discourse, dating back to the early days of Greek immigration to America. To fully grasp the significance and purpose of this book, it is essential to understand the dominant themes through which the ethnic identity of Greeks in America has been represented. These themes include:
1. The projection of modern Greeks as the rightful heirs to the intelligence of their ancient ancestors. Ancient Greek civilization has long been admired by Americans, many of whom, particularly in the past, would have had a classical education. Historically, this connection between ancient and modern Greece was leveraged as a strategy to integrate Greek immigrants into American society and to combat racism and nativism. Today, this same connection continues to serve as a source of positive reputation and ethnic pride for the Greek American community. Manatos reproduces the familiar scheme of Hellenism's unbroken continuity, presenting an idealized "Greekness" with distinct characteristics that are passed down from one generation to the next. To support this narrative, he dedicates several pages of his book, detailing the achievements of ancient Greeks across various domains, including science, technology, philosophy, and politics (3-7). This enumeration goes beyond national pride; it is a foundational aspect of the Greek American community's self-identification and a means of affirming its heritage in the modern context (Diogos 2023). The belief that an ancient spirit, both commercial and entrepreneurial, survives in the modern Greeks of America elevates the community's prestige and separates it from other immigrant minorities.
2. The emphasis on urban professional success. Manatos highlights as successful only those Greeks engaged in urban professions, such as doctors, lawyers, merchants, entrepreneurs, and politicians. For him, success is not found so much in manual labor but in self-employment and entrepreneurship. The book is filled with the "success stories" of Greek immigrants who have adapted to the American economic environment and thrived in bourgeois professions. Through these narratives, the book reinforces and perpetuates the national myth of the "Greek genius," a dogmatic belief that Greeks possess innate qualities, such as a sharp wit and unique cleverness, that enable them not only to overcome adversity but to achieve extraordinary success (Διώγος 2024, 178).
3. The scheme of linear ascent and the "normalization of success" among Greek Americans. Manatos adopts the familiar “from rags to riches” motif, a dominant theme in the public discourse of Greek immigrants since their early presence in America (10-18). In this narrative, professional success appears almost inevitable, achieved through determination, industriousness, and the strategic use of the natural advantages that are attributed to Greeks, who found the perfect conditions to thrive in the progressive and multicultural environment of the United States. By emphasizing the seemingly geometric progress οf Greek success, the author reinforces the idea that Greek Americans are uniquely equipped to excel in the American socioeconomic landscape. This portrayal not only celebrates the achievements of Greek Americans but also positions their success as a comparative advantage of Hellenism over other ethnic and racial groups in the United States.
4. The compatibility of Greek cultural traits with American values and the Protestant work ethic. Manatos contends that the exceptional cultural and behavioral characteristics of Greeks harmonized seamlessly with American values, such as industriousness, pragmatism, and strategic planning, culminating in the significant success of Greek Americans during the 1960s, when the professional achievements of second-generation Greek Americans became prominent. This fusion of Greek cultural traits with American values created an amalgam of Hellenism and Americanism and a new archetype: the "Greek-American," a figure who, according to Manatos, surpassed both Greeks in Greece and Americans in America. By preserving the finest aspects of their "Greekness" while adopting the best elements of American character, Greek Americans successfully achieved their integration into the dominant group of "white Americans" as well as their participation in the "American dream" (Anagnostou 2009).
5. The projection of Hellenism in America as a "Model Minority," achieving a higher degree of social and economic integration and professional success as compared to other ethnic groups. Manatos takes as a criterion of this successful integration the values and characteristics of the American bourgeoisie, which align perfectly with the ideals of the "American dream." These values include individuality, professional and economic achievement, access to higher education, industriousness, self-reliance, and an adherence to legality that results in a low crime rate. In addition, Manatos praises the Greeks' strong commitment to family, religious devotion, frugal living, saving, abstinence, a healthy Mediterranean diet, and avoidance of harmful behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse (52-88). He presents these traits as protective factors that guard against economic ruin, while promoting longevity and overall well-being.
In closing, Manatos’s book is easy-to-read and serves as an example of the cultural narratives that are prevalent in the public discourse of many Greek Americans. The author selectively draws upon historical events and cultural traits of Hellenism to support his objectives: presenting Greeks as superior to other ethnic groups in the United States, promoting the Greek community as a model minority, and highlighting Greek culture, values, and the "Greek way of life" as key factors behind success. Manatos wants to ensure that Greek cultural traits are not lost in the challenging American environment, where American identity prevails, the Greek language is fading, and interest in classical studies is dwindling.
Although his intent may be valid, the narrative and interpretive scheme Manatos employs can be deeply problematic. The terms "Greek philotimo," "Greek genius," and "Greek characteristics," which are so frequently used in Manatos’s book, suggest an inherent predisposition among Greeks in America that drives them to success against all odds, almost in a supernatural way. While scientific historiography rejects this notion, the belief in an innate, inherited, and immutable "Greekness" remains deeply rooted in public opinion, journalistic and political discourse, as well as popular historiography (Anagnostou 2021).
This questionable and unsubstantiated notion disregards the social and economic factors that explain the upward mobility of immigrants within the framework of a capitalist American economy. By focusing solely on the "success stories" of the Greek bourgeoisie, Manatos effectively de-historicizes the immigrant experience and overlooks other aspects of Greek American life, such as economic failure, the hardships of immigrant workers, exploitation by both Greek and American employers, racial discrimination and social marginalization, Greek illegality, patriarchy and gender inequality within Greek American families, as well as the ethnocentrism and nationalism of Greek American ideology and institutions. The narrative of immigrants who, through their "Greek character" and Americanized work ethic struggle and achieve individual success reinforces the image of America as an open and meritocratic society. At the same time, the promotion of Greeks as a model minority integrates them into dominant "White America." However, this approach overlooks the diversity of Greek American immigrant experiences and shapes a hegemonic discourse of the immigrant bourgeoisie, which monopolizes the representation of Greek ethnic identity in the United States. Thus, an imagined trait—Greek character—is placed in service of the "American dream," absolving the country of the inequalities and injustices produced by its economic system while glorifying and sanctifying Greek American life and ideology.
Konstantinos Diogos
PhD in Modern History, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
April 14, 2024
Konstantinos Diogos is a historian. He holds a BA from the University of Ioannina and an MPhil and PhD in modern and contemporary history from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has worked as a historical researcher at the Centre for Macedonian History and Documentation in Thessaloniki, has curated a number of historical exhibitions, and has participated in Greek and international historical conferences, seminars and historical research projects. Ηis book Το όραμα των Ελλήνων για τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες της Αμερικής. Από την Ελληνική Επανάσταση έως τον Α΄ Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο [The Greek Vision for the United States of America. From the Greek Revolution to World War I] was published in 2024 by Alexandria Publications.
Works Cited
Anagnostou, Yiorgos. 2009. Contours of White Ethnicity: Popular Ethnography and the Making of Usable Pasts. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press.
–––––. 2021. “Private and public partnerships: The Greek diaspora’s branding of Philotimo as identity.” Journal of Greek Media & Culture, 7 (1): 3–25.
Diogos, Konstantinos. 2023. “Ingenious Emigrants.” In Demon Entrepreneurs: Refashioning the ‘Greek Genius’ in Modern Times, edited by Basil C. Gounaris and Ioannis D. Stefanidis, 139–54. London and New York: Routledge.
Διώγος, Κωνσταντίνος. 2024. «Το όραμα των Ελλήνων για τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες της Αμερικής: Από την Ελληνική Επανάσταση έως τον Πρώτο Παγκόσμιο Πόλεμο». Εκδόσεις Αλεξάνδρεια. [The Greek Vision for the United States of America. From the Greek Revolution to World War I.]