Our Kids

The American Dream in Crisis

By: Robert D. Putnam

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

A New York Times bestseller and “a passionate, urgent” (The New Yorker) examination of the growing inequality gap from the bestselling author of Bowling Alone: why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility.

Central to the very idea of America is the principle that we are a nation of opportunity. But over the last quarter century we have seen a disturbing “opportunity gap” emerge. We Americans have always believed that those who have talent and try hard will succeed, but this central tenet of the American Dream seems no longer true or at the least, much less true than it was.

In Our Kids, Robert Putnam offers a personal and authoritative look at this new American crisis, beginning with the example of his high school class of 1959 in Port Clinton, Ohio. The vast majority of those students went on to lives better than those of their parents. But their children and grandchildren have faced diminishing prospects. Putnam tells the tale of lessening opportunity through poignant life stories of rich, middle class, and poor kids from cities and suburbs across the country, brilliantly blended with the latest social-science research.

“A truly masterful volume” (Financial Times), Our Kids provides a disturbing account of the American dream that is “thoughtful and persuasive” (The Economist). Our Kids offers a rare combination of individual testimony and rigorous evidence: “No one can finish this book and feel complacent about equal opportunity” (The New York Times Book Review).

A Must Read for Anyone Who Cares!

Finally, a research-based complete look at the good, bad, and ugly in the Educational System in America. Forcing a wide-eyed look at what is really happening in the US and reminding the reader that it is just to easy to blame it on the educators! Well worth reading--let's hope there will be action by many!

Good companion to Coming Apart by Charles Murray

good companion book to Coming Apart by Charles Murray and Dream Hoarders by Richard Reeves

Required reading

This book should be required reading for anyone concerned with education in the US. Let me expand on the terms of that statement. By anyone, I mean teachers, administrators, parents, politicians, volunteers, and activists. By education, I mean K-12 and higher ed. Though the most salient points of this research cry for action at the K-12 level, there are important implications for higher ed as well, particularly with regard to the role of community colleges and the proprietary sector. There's nothing less at stake than the future of our economy and our democracy and that elusive conception we term "the American Dream."

well thought out, wish there were more stats

very effective use of narratives to illustrate points. but being a nerd, I wish there were a few more nationwide statistics to support the story. I also really like these fact that he addy least *tried* to talk about solutions. so many of these books point out the problem but then have no real solution to it. hopefully a politician somewhere is listening.

Everyone should read this

All the kids in America are "our kids" and it is our responsibility to help them and give them opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have. If you don't believe that, read this book and it will change your life.