Rating: 
Summary: Kudos!
Review: "The Envy of the World" is perhaps the most powerful material I've read this year. In these pages is a wealth of knowledge that validates the struggle of African-American men and describe what it is to be a Black man in America. Hard-hitting, with a soft glove, the book details factual, insightful and hopeful accounts of the challenges and triumphs of African American men. Cose provides a critical analysis of the role that racism, stereotypes and failed government and penal institutions play in the daily lives and experiences of American Black men. How the acceptance of those stereotypes has lead to self-destructive and extreme behavior in men of color in general and Black men in particular. This is a book that should be read by the masses but is certainly required for African-American men. Cose has articulated the commonalties of the Black male's (rich or poor, young or old) experience in America with language that is concise, accessible and fully loaded. Empowering in tone and spirit, "The Envy of the World" is not always an ideal position to be in; that which is envied ought to be free. In a move to liberate the mind and souls of Black men, Cose wraps up his report with twelve rules that are invaluable to our daily lives and ongoing growth. This is certainly the best purchase I've made this year and I will be distributing gift copies for some time to come.
Rating:
Summary: The Envy of The World:
Review: Ellis Cose has done it again. He has constructed a provocative and thought-provoking piece that moves across racial and gender lines. Cose, you have to understand is a strong proponent of education. Of course the principal message here is being delivered to young African American males; but anyone with an ounce of empathy and a clear understanding of the human condition could not help but be moved by the message of hope Cose delivers. (The author's spirituality permeates the essay). The bottom line is that Americans (read that all) have opportunities that citizens of other societies simply do not have. Cose challenges African American men to dream and live large. He opines that while "we often have very good reasons to believe the educational deck is stacked against us and...as justified as that bitterness may be, clinging to it will only hurt us in the end...Griping about the state of society, therapeutic though that may be, has its limits as a life-improvement strategy." He points out that whether African Americans take advantage of opportunity or do not the world is not waiting. He deftly provides examples of youth who stepped out of the trappings of a seemingly dead-end existence (out of the box) and stepped up to higher calling and finally to success: to a place where they were able to realize and experience the joy of living in their own skin. In asserting that African American males are uniquely situated to define their place in the world, Cose provides a précis of twelve hard truths that may help them deal with the competition they face in order to achieve success in America. To find the secret: read the book; follow the commandments; and be persistent in demanding what is rightfully and legally yours. Like Ellis Cose, this book is a huge winner. Bravo!
Rating:
Summary: Is the time of reckoning finally here for men of color?
Review: Ellis Cose, a Newsweek Columnist, penned a provocative if not intrusive book on why Black men are feared, admired, shunned, and despised in a perceived racist society...and how they can overcome maladies that have allowed views of inferiority to proliferate. The Envy Of The World: On Being A Black Man In America is a superb book! Well written and full of insight, its significance should be appreciated within the style that is was written. It explains with clarity the challenges facing black men in twenty-first century America and offer ways out of the defeatist-type attitudes and despair that wreak havoc in the black community. It's my feeling, and the author concurs, that black men have never had more opportunity for success than they do today. But are the resources and said opportunities being adequately utilized to the fullest? Are the adversities, misconceptions, and stereotypical assessments that White America typically view blacks enough to warrant change? What steps need to be initiated to uplift the black man in this society?These questions not only are answered, but show progressively some of the experiences that are faced by others trying to find solutions to the aforementioned, acknowledging various systemic obstacles that tend to stifle change. Sequenced in six chapters in his classic interview style, Mr Cose offers and supports his theory with reductive reasoning why they ARE the envy of the world. This is done by garnering the experiences of a broad range of black men, which culminates with 'Twelve Things You Must Know To Survive and Thrive In America'. He concludes by offering this gem: "There is more leeway than there has ever been in history for you to become whatever you would be; for you to accomplish whatever you dread; for you to escape the prisons of stereotypes and caricatures that our forefathers could not avoid" This in itself should be the impetus and reason to want to read such a book that seem to be the perfect anecdote for the future of a race.
Rating:
Summary: THE ENVY OF THE WORLD:ON BEING A BLACK MAN IN AMERICA
Review: EVERYONE SHOULS READ THIS BOOK, NO MATTER WHAT RACE.
THIS BOOK EXPLAINS HOW IT FEELS TO BE OPPRESSED IN SOCIETY,
AND FEEL LIKE THEIR IS NO WAY OUT.
Rating: 
Summary: Well worth the read
Review: I agree that every young African American male ought to read this book (but I'd also recommend Rage of the Privileged Class). It tells a concrete-hard story of what most Black young men go through with tenderness and compassion. Without the angst filled, anger inducing stories which lamentably are a part of the life of most of those to whom the book is directed, it explains what life is likely to be about. Most of us have had the experience of the fear during the extended police stop, the frustration with the overly attentive shopclerk at the exclusive store or the amusement at the person shrinking in fear upon entry into an elevator. This book is filled with insights and wisdom obtained from men from Harvard to prison. "The Envy of The World" is well worth reading, sharing with friends and contemplating. While it is not the source of all the answers, it does close with a section on solutions and it certainly adds insight in exploring the questions and challenges.
Rating: 
Summary: Let me get this straight
Review: if a so-called white males engaged in the same self-destructive behavior in the same ratio as so-called black males the outcomes for the so-called white males would be different? yeah right! the so-called black males who's dirty deeds are documented in this book are not interested in reading this work or debating intellectually the mayhem and dysfunction they represent these human beings murder rape rob and violent assault because their a human predators pure and simple this is one of those works that suggest that the world reward these black predators for murdering raping robbing and assualting other black people no that will not do the black community needs to destroy the black criminal terrorist/predator classes within its mist until that happens the world's investment communities will continue to bypass the majority black communities in the usa and around the world this book does not add anything that is new to that reality and struggle it's more of the some blacks act like beast because of the ill-will of white people give it a break hmm...?
Rating:
Summary: A man who can open eyes...
Review: The Envy of the World: On Being a Black Man in America by Ellis Cose is definitely an eye opener and a realistic and accurate approach to the state of black men in America. I am a black woman and I applaud the writer for his revelation of facts and steps for black men to take to combat a society that both envelops them in love and chokes them in hate. The book does not preach victimology, especially since that term is usually incorrectly applied. I feel that often times people who have experienced racism feel that EVERYTHING is racism and people who have not experienced it, or the privileged class, thinks that NOTHING is racism. Both groups are wrong. Neither extreme is correct, especially since extremes rarely are. He promotes praise where it is due and also provides criticism. I can appreciate his honest approach, where some black male writers fall short. They seem to want to portray black men as above error and anyone (especially black women) who may suggest an error, feel upset about an action or offer a method of improvement is "against the black man" when often times that is not the case. Both black women and men make errors and I am tired of those errors by one gender over the other being ignored. I was glad to see how he pointed things out and offered solutions instead of the typical blame of black women and white men for every single thing that occurs in the black man's life. There are many factors that contribute to pain, some are self inducing and some are societal. I feel that many black people want the self inducing side of issues to be ignored while many whites want the societal side, such as racism, to be ignored. Both areas must be considered and rectified within a black man's life so that he may have a happy and more fulfilled life. I enjoyed this book and recommended it as reading to every one that I know who cares for black men and conditions in our country.
Rating:
Summary: A man who can open eyes...
Review: The Envy of the World: On Being a Black Man in America by Ellis Cose is definitely an eye opener and a realistic and accurate approach to the state of black men in America. I am a black woman and I applaud the writer for his revelation of facts and steps for black men to take to combat a society that both envelops them in love and chokes them in hate. The book does not preach victimology, especially since that term is usually incorrectly applied. I feel that often times people who have experienced racism feel that EVERYTHING is racism and people who have not experienced it, or the privileged class, thinks that NOTHING is racism. Both groups are wrong. Neither extreme is correct, especially since extremes rarely are. He promotes praise where it is due and also provides criticism. I can appreciate his honest approach, where some black male writers fall short. They seem to want to portray black men as above error and anyone (especially black women) who may suggest an error, feel upset about an action or offer a method of improvement is "against the black man" when often times that is not the case. Both black women and men make errors and I am tired of those errors by one gender over the other being ignored. I was glad to see how he pointed things out and offered solutions instead of the typical blame of black women and white men for every single thing that occurs in the black man's life. There are many factors that contribute to pain, some are self inducing and some are societal. I feel that many black people want the self inducing side of issues to be ignored while many whites want the societal side, such as racism, to be ignored. Both areas must be considered and rectified within a black man's life so that he may have a happy and more fulfilled life. I enjoyed this book and recommended it as reading to every one that I know who cares for black men and conditions in our country.
Rating:
Summary: Well documented book on what's going on....
Review: The Envy of the World: On being a Black man in America is a well done book that gives the reader a view on what it's like to be black or if you are black helps you to understand some of the issues that you're facing. At the end of the book in "The twelve things you must know" he gives some important points that I think Blacks should pay close attention to. He also makes great points in the "Too cool for School" chapter. He brings out important points in the book, like the fact that the quality of education that Blacks receive is far lower than that of whites. Also, the important distinction of the inner city school and the rich suburban school. There are two different types of education going on here and if some people expect the inner city school kid to compete with what the rich suburban kid has, you're really living in a fantasy world. Sadly, the people who would most benefit from this book, probably won't even read it or probably won't even hear of this book. I tend to agree with most of what Ellis Cose has to say in this book and I think it is a book that every person should read to view the struggles of the Black man. A lot of people say that in essence, you're blaming society. However, if the evidence is supporting the claim, who can deny the facts?
Rating:
Summary: Well documented book on what's going on....
Review: The Envy of the World: On being a Black man in America is a well done book that gives the reader a view on what it's like to be black or if you are black helps you to understand some of the issues that you're facing. At the end of the book in "The twelve things you must know" he gives some important points that I think Blacks should pay close attention to. He also makes great points in the "Too cool for School" chapter. He brings out important points in the book, like the fact that the quality of education that Blacks receive is far lower than that of whites. Also, the important distinction of the inner city school and the rich suburban school. There are two different types of education going on here and if some people expect the inner city school kid to compete with what the rich suburban kid has, you're really living in a fantasy world. Sadly, the people who would most benefit from this book, probably won't even read it or probably won't even hear of this book. I tend to agree with most of what Ellis Cose has to say in this book and I think it is a book that every person should read to view the struggles of the Black man. A lot of people say that in essence, you're blaming society. However, if the evidence is supporting the claim, who can deny the facts?
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