Rating: 
Summary: current events raised to the level of art
Review: A hugely important work, immense in its scope. This book is an excellent educational experience, on at least the levels of racial attitudes in the 60's and beyond, Boston and New England history, local and national politics, and social stratification. Common ground is detailed in its factual accounts, empathic with its central characters, and insightful yet unbiased. A must-read for anyone from the Northeast, and a should-read for everyone else. I hope to read this at least every other year, so as not to forget its importance and cultural significance.
Rating:
Summary: Hugely Important
Review: A hugely important work, immense in its scope. This book is an excellent educational experience, on at least the levels of racial attitudes in the 60's and beyond, Boston and New England history, local and national politics, and social stratification. Common ground is detailed in its factual accounts, empathic with its central characters, and insightful yet unbiased. A must-read for anyone from the Northeast, and a should-read for everyone else. I hope to read this at least every other year, so as not to forget its importance and cultural significance.
Rating:
Summary: THE TRUTH, WITHOUT BLAME
Review: As one who actually lived through these terrible, terrible times in Boston, this book is one of the only pieces of journalism that doesn't portray white, working class Boston as the bad, ugly racists, but rather shows that the children of Boston were used as pawns by well-heeled suburbanites and a lofty judge who walked away and then pointed the finger. It was always, always about class and not race and the whole busing debacle nearly ruined a great American city. Stopping the desegregation at the City limits was the biggest mistake ever made and the people of Boston simply refused to abide by it. Sure, people were accused of being racist and certainly some ugly things happened, but to act as though discrimination ended at the borders of Boston was ridiculous, which is now acknowledged. Hopefully the suburbs will not be let off the hook again.
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Summary: A Tremendous Loss
Review: Common Ground is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Lukas's meticulous research, carefully crafted writing and sensitivity toward a very delicate issue makes for a truly powerful work of non-fiction. He tells the story of the Boston busing crisis through the lives of three families. He tells each perspective carefully and graciously. If you are from Boston, care about the young people of our country, are concerned about education, racism, classism and urban issues you must read this book! (While you're at it, make sure you read All Souls by Michael McDonald!)I was so deeply saddened by the death of J. Anthony Lukas about two years ago, that as I have often found when a beloved writer dies, I didn't know what to do with myself. In the end, my solution was to reread Common Ground and I try to get as many people to read it as I can!
Rating: 
Summary: Try a closer view
Review: I came to this book after first reading Big Trouble, Lucas's work on class struggle at the turn of the century. I was hoping to find a broad analysis of same conflicts in a modern time. What I found instead was a reasoned analyis of several family histories and their attitudes on race. Small potatoes compared to Big Trouble. I believe that Common Ground was praised so highly compared to Big Trouble was that it drops names of current Eastern political personalities whereas Big Trouble focussed on Western figures long forgotten. A dissappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Too narrow
Review: I came to this book after first reading Big Trouble, Lucas's work on class struggle at the turn of the century. I was hoping to find a broad analysis of same conflicts in a modern time. What I found instead was a reasoned analyis of several family histories and their attitudes on race. Small potatoes compared to Big Trouble. I believe that Common Ground was praised so highly compared to Big Trouble was that it drops names of current Eastern political personalities whereas Big Trouble focussed on Western figures long forgotten. A dissappointment.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I got to experience the events in this book firsthand. Our house in Hyde Park overlooked Hyde Park High School, and the three kids in my family still at home in September, 1974, and affected by busing, were in the 9th, 8th, and 5th grades. I will never forget how forced busing turned our world and that of our neighbors upside-down. So many incidents went unreported so as not to inflame tensions even more. I put off reading Mr. Lukas' book for years, but now that I have, I 'm in awe of his incredible effort. I feel that I personally owe him a great debt, because he gave these events a place in history where they deserve to be. For many years, busing was a taboo topic in conversation and in the newspapers. Strangely enough, after 24 years, the court's decisions are now being overturned, using the same arguments in reverse... To me, busing will always rankle as a reminder of the hypocrisy of the suburbs, where I now live in order to avoid- you guessed it- the now less-than-adequate Boston schools.
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Summary: A true account of American history.
Review: I had originally heard about this book as a student in urban affairs. IT is an accurate, indepth look at what really happened in Boston during the most trying times of the City. The author made it easy to feel attached to the efforts of the the three families. The reader could get a sense of the racism that existed in all levels of government, the media, and society during the time. The book is an eye opener to anyone who is in the public sector without exclusion. It would be interesting to see where these people are now and what they think today.
Rating:
Summary: A monumental effort... with intelligence & heart
Review: I really appreciate the honesty in this book. Lukas did not try to create villans or martyrs, he simply told the truth. This book is a must-read for anyone who lives in a racially diverse American city. If you like this book, you'll also like UNEASY ALLIANCES by Paul Frymer. Wei Chen
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Summary: Fabulous insight into Boston's 1970's busing crisis
Review: I thought this book was breathtaking. J. Anthony Lukas does a masterful job telling the story of the Boston busing crisis from the perspective of 3 individuals involved (in 1974 a judge ordered the city of Boston to bus children into schools outside their own neighborhoods in order to achieve racial diversity; problems ensued). You learn about a young, idealistic upperclass white man who works for Boston Mayor Kevin White, a poor black mother who is concerned for her children and their education, and an Irish Catholic family living in Charlestown who resent the changes being imposed on them by others. Lukas tells you about each family's history and presents their story and perspectives in a way that you can understand and relate to.
As a resident of Boston, I really enjoyed learning more about an important period of time for the city. I think that by putting human faces to the story he personalized it for people who didn't experience it themselves. Boston still does not have neighborhood high schools - students submit their top 3 choices and then are assigned to a school - and I would imagine this is a vestige of the 1974 court ruling.
A great book.
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