promised strangers invisible conflicts

books:

20 reviews
David K. Shipler

Crown, 1986

Deep and insightful; needs to be updated.
Vivid and personal descriptions of the prejudices, hatreds and mythologies that have become the modern middle-east conflict are richly interwoven with sociological survey data throughout this intriguing book. The author digs deeply into the recent history of this conflict, although he does not look so far back as to give what could be called an ancient historical perspective. Still, the writing ...

Inside Israel: The Faiths, the People, and the Modern Conflicts of the World's Holiest Land

1 review

Da Capo Press, 2002

An interesting book
This is a collection of fourteen essays and excerpts from books about the Arab-Israeli conflict. There are a number of different opinions presented, and that's good. But I think too many ideas are overlooked. David Shipler starts with an overview of the conflict. Next is Karen Armstrong. She appears to sneeringly dismiss any claims by others to Muslim land, but is all sweetness when she ...

The Working Poor: Invisible in America

73 reviews
David K. Shipler

Knopf, 2004

This should be required reading in US high schools!
Having gone down my own path of working at minimum-wage jobs, being a single mother, receiving food stamps and Medicaid for a short time when my child was small and I had to be home with her, this was a poignant read. Since that time I was able to complete my degree and am gainfully employed. That said, this is an excellent book that explores the realities the poor face, and hints at ...

A Country of Strangers: Blacks and Whites in America

8 reviews
David K. Shipler

Knopf, 1997

The truth and more
I found David Shiplers book to be very true and to the point. Being a person of color, I already know how we (people of color) feel about race relations. I found it most helpful to see it through the eyes of a white male. I have been tempted to buy a box of this book and carry it with me to give to people. I believe everyone should read this book and debate the content. Of course, not everyone ...

Ragged Dick: or, Street Life in New York with the Boot-Blacks (Modern Library Classics)

12 reviews
Horatio Alger

Modern Library, 2005

Good values and good history
RAGGED DICK is a wonderful example of the late 19th century optimism in between the major depressions that plagued America during those years. I agree that this is an inspirational story for children and early adolescents. The values it imparts--loyalty, work, cooperation, persistence--are certainly ones that we would want our youth exposed to. But it holds something for adults too: and that is ...