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Our Kids

The American Dream in Crisis

Putnam begins with his high school class of 1959 in Port Clinton, Ohio. The vast majority of those students — “our kids” — went on to lives better than those of their parents. But their children and grandchildren have had harder lives amid diminishing prospects. Putnam tells of lessening opportunity through poignant life stories of rich and poor kids from cities and suburbs, drawing on a formidable body of research done just for this book.

Author: Robert Putnam
Year of Publishing: 2015
Number of Pages: 386

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Reviews

  1. sweety95838 (verified owner)

    A thoughtful, persuasive eye opening book with clarity and compassion

  2. kelli.conraads (verified owner)

    Well written. Dives into multiple areas where the kids may be struggling due to different societal policies and complex interactions. Valuable information for talking with struggling young people.

  3. Mike Bonebrake (verified owner)

    I am not one to agree to this sort of book. I have always felt up by the boot straps. This book with such a deep and varied look across America opened my eyes to the reality of Cities and towns across the United States. The author was very level in presenting children from poor and rich families from the same cities. Being a teacher i go back this year with me eyes opened to the truth and will look at each child a bit differently than i have in the past. I would highly recommend this book.

  4. Vanessa (verified owner)

    Amazing book with real world examples to bring concepts to life.

  5. imelda (verified owner)

    Wow. This was a wonderful book. It has just enough data in the form of graphs to lend credibility but not enough to make your eyes cross. Robert Putnam is an incredible story-teller of course but he tells these alarming facts with compassion and the necessary urgency. The sad, divergent path that await those without a higher education or those unlucky enough to be born to uneducated parents is quite alarming. We need to do better to help those in need get a leg up in this unforgiving society. A must read for anyone with children, thinking of having children, policy markers and/or educators.

  6. pwmeyer (verified owner)

    Robert Putnam is one of those nonfiction authors I always read as soon as he publishes a new book. From “Bowling Alone” to “Better Together,” our society would do well to heed Mr. Putnam’s suggested course. “Our Kids” is no exception. Filled with moments when the reader may think to themselves “Why didn’t I realize that?,” this book gives the reader much to think about and a mental commitment to do better for our children.

  7. allison verdries (verified owner)

    Great book for helping show different perspectives. Insightful and eye opening.

  8. Faith (verified owner)

    Really great book. Going to recommend to some of my other social work friends to read, and also just those that work with children or have them

  9. mgvelasco (verified owner)

    Great book!

  10. louiebrown (verified owner)

    A great read. Thank you!

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