American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End WelfareIn this definitive work, two-time Pulitzer finalist Jason DeParle cuts between the mean streets of Milwaukee and the corridors of Washington to produce a masterpiece of literary journalism. At the heart of the story are three cousins whose different lives follow similar trajectories. Leaving welfare, Angie puts her heart in her work. Jewell bets on an imprisoned man. Opal guards a tragic secret that threatens her kids and her life. DeParle traces their family history back six generations to slavery and weaves poor people, politicians, reformers, and rogues into a spellbinding epic. With a vivid sense of humanity, DeParle demonstrates that although we live in a country where anyone can make it, generation after generation some families don’t. To read American Dream is to understand why. |
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Eyeopenning and deep
User Review - ld50 - Overstock.comBook itself is printed in 14pt font and it is a softcover. It is not hard to read and English Requirement courses in colleges require this book. It tells the story of three separate families and their ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - janey47 - LibraryThingI very much appreciate the perspective that DeParle brings to this project. He is able to write about the overarching political environment that brought about the pledge to "end welfare as we know it ... Read full review
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Common terms and phrases
addicts AFDC ain’t Angie and Jewell Angie’s baby Bill Clinton block grants boyfriend Bruce Reed called Caples caseload caseworker Charity Chicago child clients cocaine couldn’t crack Daniel Patrick Moynihan decade Democrats DeParle Dick Morris didn’t drugs earnings Eastland Ellwood end welfare father federal food stamps ghetto Gingrich governors Greg Hattie Mae Interview James Eastland Jason Turner Jeffrey Manor Jewell’s Jobe Kenny Kesha kids knew later Leutermann living look Mae’s Mama Marcus Maximus Medicaid Michael Mickey Kaus million Milwaukee months moved Moynihan never Newt Gingrich nursing Opal Opal’s percent politics poor poverty problems recipients Redd Republican rolls Senate single mothers social spent story Street talk thing Thompson told Tommy Thompson took Turner underclass wanted wasn’t welfare bill welfare check Welfare Reform Wisconsin woman women workers York
Bibliographic information
| Title | American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation's Drive to End Welfare |
| Author | Jason DeParle |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Penguin, 2005 |
| ISBN | 1440649170, 9781440649172 |
| Length | 432 pages |
| Subjects | › › Political Science / Public Policy / Social Services & Welfare Social Science / Poverty & Homelessness Social Science / Social Classes & Economic Disparity |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |