Customer Reviews

A Framework for Understanding Poverty (2009 Printing)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is one of the most helpful and insightful books I have ever read. It is full of "aha" moments and will give anyone looking for insight into this difficult issue plenty of food for thought. I recommend it highly and count it as one of my most important resources in this area.

After 25 years of working with people in poverty situations, it was wonderful to read a book that could concisely express and back up with solid research many of the conclusions my co-workers and I had come to believe. But even better, it gives solid suggestions on what to do and how to do it to help those who want to navigate their way into another class. It also gave me the words to teach understanding and compassion to people new to working with people that live in poverty. I've recommended this book to educators, coaches, medical professionals and law enforcement professionals.

Excellent introduction to the reality of being poor in America. Will make the book mandatory for undergraduates in my course "Race. Poverty and Education" which is targeted for potential teacher education majors. A must read for the middle and upper class who will or presently work with the poor as social workers, teachers, healthcare providers, philanthropists,judiciary representatives, etc.

I like direct, to the point, presentation of information without lots of fluff to go through. Ruby Payne does that in spades. The content is well researched, and is well organized. Although directed specifically to educators, the description of the characteristics of the poverty class culture as contrasted to those of the middle class culture has universal application. As for me, it is a re-read and reference book.

The first 78 pages of this book overflow with the author's anecdotes & epiphanies regarding the stereotypes she refers to as "reality." I would never have put myself through reading this had it not been assigned for coursework. It seems likely that the author just typed up her journal or lecture notes and then called it a text. The fact that it is self-published is telling. There are countless instances in this book of extremely inflammatory and controversial statements which are not backed up with research. The author claims, for instance, that poor people keep their televisions on and loud all the time because they have an inherent need for entertainment. She says this, but gives no clue as to how she justifies this outlandish conclusion. She also repeatedly says that poor people cannot tell a story straight--that they "beat around the bush" rather than being logical or straightforward. There are countless other examples of how the author pigeon holes people, and is particularly harsh towards the poor. The author might find it interesting to note that the so-called "culture of poverty" is a myth which was debunked many years ago. There are a few suggestions around page 80 or so which might be helpful for teachers. These could easily have been presented on a poster, rather than a book format.