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mad_taylh's review against another edition
4.0
"'All you have to do,' he tells me, 'is give a little bit of understanding to the possibility that life might not have been fair.'"
cpiresch's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed the variety and range of these pieces. The balance made what would otherwise be a depressing subject matter illuminating, genuine, and surprising. Recommended!
aribookie's review against another edition
4.0
This is an important read. Some of the stories were better than others, duh.
galenb's review against another edition
4.0
Works that tell the stories of those who have been forgotten, oppressed, downtrodden. Some of them weren’t for me, and some of them were incredible. Worth a read for just about everyone.
katebelt's review against another edition
3.0
Engaging collection of essays with a few short stories and poems with contributions many well known writers, including some of my favorites: Rebecca Solnit, Tim Egan, Anthony Doerr, Ann Patchett, Edwidge Danticat
lizakessler's review against another edition
5.0
This felt much more relevant to me than Hillbilly Elegy. I wasn't able to finish all the essays and poems before returning the book back for someone else to take out of the library, but I intend to purchase a copy myself.
pestoimbroglio's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
snowcrash's review against another edition
4.0
I love OR books, as they get me to think, challenging my world view. This compilation of essays, stories and poetry lays bare the part of America that is underserved and unloved. The stories here are perfect parallels to the headlines of today.
It is at times difficult to read, as the authors know how to bring the feeling of the downtrodden to the reader. As a society, we have failed. That is the only way I can see to explain the rift that is breaking America into pieces.
How can we fix it? Offering night school is great, but if the person interested is already working two jobs just to subsist, then nothing will change. The story about a boy able to attend the "rich high school" through a diversity program is quite telling. As my department chair told me, we are all capable. He thought that. So long as you applied yourself, he'd teach you computer engineering. But if the student is at a school that can't help change the negative way of thinking, then those kids will end up nowhere.
Read the book to get a better sense of the people at the opposite end of the 1%.
It is at times difficult to read, as the authors know how to bring the feeling of the downtrodden to the reader. As a society, we have failed. That is the only way I can see to explain the rift that is breaking America into pieces.
How can we fix it? Offering night school is great, but if the person interested is already working two jobs just to subsist, then nothing will change. The story about a boy able to attend the "rich high school" through a diversity program is quite telling. As my department chair told me, we are all capable. He thought that. So long as you applied yourself, he'd teach you computer engineering. But if the student is at a school that can't help change the negative way of thinking, then those kids will end up nowhere.
Read the book to get a better sense of the people at the opposite end of the 1%.