Cold New World : Growing Up in Harder Country

Rating:
Summary: Our cold world
Review: William Finnegan has written a truly American book, even though its characters are not quite representative of Americans at all. His interest for this book is in a certain segment of the population. The four cities he chooses are those that have been hard hit by economic downturns, and the youths he associates with and learns about are those situated in danger and immobility. What makes the book relevant to all Americans (beyond our ability to feel a basic concern for others) is that Finnegan tackles two issues that we reluctantly, and too often simplistically, face-poverty and race. A few more topics that constantly appear that I would consider as being born of the previous two are drugs and gangs.

It doesn't take much to enjoy this book. It reads like four stories. I had to keep reminding myself that these were true (according to Finnegan). After the "stories," in which Finnegan tries to keep a journalistic distance (though not always), there is an epilogue, and we see what the author is trying to get the reader the see. There are deep questions of responsibility that run through America's laws and policies, that these questions must be asked by the citizens of the country who sometimes must choose between economic growth and economic equality. Such consideration requires an understanding that some decisions allow a few to prosper and few to fall into deprivation.

It's easy to say people like Terry and Juan are hopeless, that they will forever be in trouble, and that they deserve any punishment they get. It's a little harder to say that when you consider that you have human beings in desperate conditions, and they will not go away simply by enforcing judicial toughness.

Rating:
Summary: Our cold world
Review: William Finnegan has written a truly American book, even though its characters are not quite representative of Americans at all. His interest for this book is in a certain segment of the population. The four cities he chooses are those that have been hard hit by economic downturns, and the youths he associates with and learns about are those situated in danger and immobility. What makes the book relevant to all Americans (beyond our ability to feel a basic concern for others) is that Finnegan tackles two issues that we reluctantly, and too often simplistically, face-poverty and race. A few more topics that constantly appear that I would consider as being born of the previous two are drugs and gangs.

It doesn't take much to enjoy this book. It reads like four stories. I had to keep reminding myself that these were true (according to Finnegan). After the "stories," in which Finnegan tries to keep a journalistic distance (though not always), there is an epilogue, and we see what the author is trying to get the reader the see. There are deep questions of responsibility that run through America's laws and policies, that these questions must be asked by the citizens of the country who sometimes must choose between economic growth and economic equality. Such consideration requires an understanding that some decisions allow a few to prosper and few to fall into deprivation.

It's easy to say people like Terry and Juan are hopeless, that they will forever be in trouble, and that they deserve any punishment they get. It's a little harder to say that when you consider that you have human beings in desperate conditions, and they will not go away simply by enforcing judicial toughness.