This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women

The United States of America was founded on ideals of pluralism and tolerance, and has accepted immigrants from all over the world. American culture is therefore a melting pot of different global cultures, religions, and lifestyles, all of which coexist under the protection of its legal system. The producers of the This I Believe radio shows and the co-editors of this volume were all committed to curating a collection of essays written by a wide range of diverse contributors to reflect the pluralism of American society and the diversity of the American public. The essays are written by authors from all walks of life. Although they all write with the same goal of defining their personal beliefs, the individual essays differ significantly in tone, message, and structure.

Writers of This I Believe essays are encouraged to write in their own register. Consequently, each essay bears the hallmarks of its writer’s unique linguistic and stylistic characteristics. An individual’s unique use of language—including vocabulary, syntax, and style—is called an idiolect. Idiolects reflect the social status, geographical location, educational background, and community ties of its speaker, among countless other characteristics and influences.