Robert D. Putnam

In an authoritative, yet personal, examination of the growing inequality gap, a leading humanist and renowned scientist who has consulted for the last four U.S. Presidents, drawing on poignant life stories of rich and poor kids across the country, provides a disturbing account of the American dream. By the author of Bowling Alone. Includes 30 charts and graphs.

The American Dream in Crisis

Our Kids

Dani C

This was a really great look into the opportunity gap between affluent and lower class kids. It's really easy to blame the schools only or neighborhoods only but the problems are so much deeper than that and this book reveals the issues well. It's shocking how much our culture perpetuates two different worlds so accurately in the media and yet the issues aren't being resolved because of a lack of knowledge. Tis easier to portray than to solve. There were some ideas at the end of policies and actions some are taking that have proven to work, such as specific early education sites or moving poorer families into richer neighborhoods, but the number of solutions is staggeringly low given how dire the prospects of our country's economy, politics, and future generation of workers are. I was surprised that more philanthropic approaches, such as community gardens or free interview clothing/resume building/prep services weren't mentioned at all.
Overall, if you want to understand the difference between how rich and poor kids are raised, how this effects their ability to succeed in life, and some possible ways you can change this (though this section, again, is small compared to the rest of the data) this is a MUST READ.

Our Kids The American Dream in Crisis

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