Little America: Incredible True Stories of Immigrants in America

by Epic Magazine, Kumail Nanjiani (Introduction)

The True Stories That Inspired the Apple Original Series

Nearly everyone in America came from somewhere else. This is a fundamental part of the American idea—it's an identity and a place open to everyone. People arrive from all points distant, speaking hundreds of languages, carrying every culture, each having their own reason for uprooting themselves to try something new. Everyone has a unique story. Little America is a collection of those stories, told by the people who lived them. Together, they form a wholly original, at times unexpected portrait of America’s immigrants, and thereby a portrait of America itself. The book includes nearly one hundred color photographs and an introduction by Kumail Nanjiani.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Politics, Biography, Essays

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2020

About the author

As Fun as Fiction, But Full of Facts

You know that feeling you get when a good true-life tale grabs you right from the start? You can’t stop turning the page — because you realize incredible things happen to real people — and it's hard to believe that what you’re reading is non-fiction. That is the kind of story we like to tell.

Epic writers travel the world searching for encounters with the unknown. Wartime romance, unlikely savants, deranged detectives, gentlemen thieves, and love struck killers: stories that tap into the thrill of being alive.

Epic publishes extraordinary true stories that get noticed. More than 25 of our articles have been optioned by Hollywood, including Argo , which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Reviews

[Jodi Geever · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories shared in this book are told in snapshot vignettes. Each one stands on its own and taken together they paint a beautiful picture of a multi-cultural America. Reading this is like being witness to history. Read it. You won't regret the time.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each individual's story is beautiful and unique in terms of the voice and spirit. However the collective feeling of hope, pride, and determination is the most astounding. What amazing people they all are.

[Timothy Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little America is the companion book of true stories for the Apple TV series by the same name.

Both the book and the show are really honest about how hard it is to arrive somewhere new and have to rebuild your sense of self. They do not soften that reality, but they also do not dwell in it. What shines instead is resilience, humour, and the very real ways people find belonging and eventually thrive.

What I loved most is how universal it all feels. These stories are not about immigrants as a category, they are about people. Ambition, pride, kindness, stubbornness, hope. The stuff that makes us far more similar than different.

Because I am Anglo I have never been treated as an outsider in the way my Australian born Colombian Lebanese Muslim partner has, but I still identify strongly as an immigrant. That comes with a deep discomfort for how easily people are pushed to the margins simply for being seen as other. Little America and stories like it sharpen that empathy, not because I share those experiences, but because I don’t.

Right now in 2026, it seems like these stories have never been as important to tell and I hope that Little America will return soon to continue telling them.

[Sheri S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - It's inspiring to learn about the backgrounds of individuals who have overcome challenges and found happiness and success. This book contains the stories of people who were immigrants to the United States from all over the world. They came to the US for acceptance and opportunity. Sometimes people showed kindness towards the immigrants and, unfortunately, others times they were not treated with much respect. The book is evidence of how each of us, wherever we come from, can make a contribution towards making the world a better place.

[Hector · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you’re third generation, it’s easy to forget that so many people have come to this country for so many different reasons. What I love about these vignettes about individuals from all over the world settling in places all across the U.S. is that it’s a reminder of the great hope that there will be opportunity and freedom on the other end of a sometimes treacherous journey. I’m inspired by these stories perseverance and family. We have so much to learn from the people that have chosen this country as a new home.

[The Tick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciated how a lot of the people interviewed in this book talked about things like their hobbies and family rather than just their immigration experience--I love "immigration experience" stuff, but there's a similarity that seeps into a lot of the books and movies that discuss it. It was nice to see a book that let people who happen to all be immigrants show the sides of themselves that they most wanted to display.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid read. Read it after watching the show on Apple TV+. I actually got it as a gift but read it quickly before the wrapping paper gets thrown on. It could double as a coffee table read too, with the short formatting (five-page-ish stories with great photos immersed) and a diverse collection of immigrants. Worth the buy

[Tamara Santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stories about immigrants that help to show the individual and unique people and reasons for coming to the United States. Admittedly many these immigrant stories seemed to have been chosen for some entertainment value, given this started as an Apple TV project I can see how selecting individuals who have very specific, unique and "newsworthy" narratives was a focus.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book. There were many narrators which helped show how each shirt story was from a different person. It was interesting to hear the stories of so many different immigrants; where they came from, what they were looking for and what their life was like at that time. A nice sneak leak into a life I know nothing about.

[Rachel Alvillar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little America does a wonderful job of capturing the myriad ways America looks to those who outside hoping to make a home or a life here. Each story is bite sized and easy to digest while also holding so much emotion within each.

[Bee Ostrowsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only request? Volume 2, and then 3, and so on. These are fantastic.

I’ve highlighted my favorite bits from each story, but you should read the whole thing!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was refreshing to read these stories from people who view the United States as the greatest place on earth. It reminded me that even though we may not always agree with our leaders, we are free to do so.
Beautiful portraits of each of the story tellers. Just a generally feel good book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each unique story of immigration was fascinating. I loved reading how each person ended up where they were. It's a good reminder that we're all human and we all have a wonderful and unique story. I absolutely loved it!

[Stephanie Hirchert-Walton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook and very interesting short essays, stories of people’s experiences coming to America. Read for IRRC potential book read, sexual situations might preclude from being a non controversial book choice . Sara Kalt said show on Netflix, curious to learn more.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the individual, unique stories within this quick read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish it was longer.

[Mary Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about immigrants who overcome challenges and found happiness and success. Uplifting!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet stories

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great stories. Something special about seeing the huge diversity of immigrant stories all in a row.

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this to be a book of immigration stories, but rather it was a range of fantastical life experiences and the mundane. Ultimately they are snapshots of humanity.

[Russ Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kind of stuff is something I would love to do, to be able to photograph people and their stories and record them.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Riot RHC 2022 Task 5. Read any anthology featuring diverse voices.

Lovely anthology featuring immigrants from various countries. A little reminder that everyone has a story to tell.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the diversity of the people involved in and hearing their stories.

[J.J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. My favorite story was the immigrant to Oklahoma. There were some really good stories and some sad ones but overall interesting to hear so many different stories.

[Jennifer Choisser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this short story book that showcases the lives of real immigrants to compliment the fiction work, “American Dirt”.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lighter than I expected but I liked the stories.