Customer Reviews

The Reluctant Welfare State: American Social Welfare Policies: Past, Present, and Future (with InfoTrac)

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

 

 

I was assigned this book for a course I took on social welfare policy (I'm studying for my masters in social work) and actually LOVED reading it. Jansson's writing style is very fluid and engaging, and the material covers issues that I'd wanted to study since I was a freshman in high school but never got to study until now. This was actually a cool read (although, granted, if you're politically conservative, you probably won't be into it like I was), and I recommend it to anyone-- even just for the sake of reading, not just for school.

I am reading this text for a graduate social policies course, and while I am impresed with the depth of treatment Jansson gives to his area, this book is shaky as a lone text in any course.

Chronicling the long, strange, and twisted involvement of the American government in the provision of what is commonly defined as "social welfare" the author takes a strictly chronological approach strongly resembling introductory American history survey courses. While disclosing previously unreleased information on Revolutionary America, the depth and complexity of the New Deal----unarguably American government's most revolutionary and profound social policy involvement in any century, is not given it's proportional treatment.

Granted, the premise of his particular book is not exactly a regular part of discussion in most social science courses (including 'liberal' college offerings) neccesitating a start at the begining, but I was left wanting much more.

Recognizing the provision of social services has been and will continue to be an inherently politcal concept, something in Jansson's style of writing sounds guarded, as if he is not willing to share all with the reading audience. Considering the critical nature of the subject mater being presented, this is a disappointment because a more substantial and pointed work could accomplish more.

America's ambivalent social welfare record makes the history depressing, but we need to understand where we have been in order to accurately chart where the country needs to go. That 1996's intensely punnitative welfare reform legislation was eagerly embraced by leading officials from all parties was only the most reccent mainifestation of the afforementioned love/hate duality.

Aid to Families with Dependent Children itself was ironically developed in the 1930's so widowed or single white women COULD stay at home with their children like all 'good' women of the day. Uncoincidentally, politicians began their assault on the program around the time of racial intergration even as enrollment remained predominantely white, the biggest federal expenditures were the armed forces and 'welfare mothers' as a whole were just as hardworking as the general population. Because payments never kept up with cost of living adjustments since the 1960's, the women by very definition had to be hard working in order to survive.

This book can be used in a course, but only in conjunction with a work such as Dinitto, emphasizing the inherently political activist underpinings and responsibilities of social policy.

This book is very liberal, which I expected from a social work book, but tends to sound biased in its presentation of topics.

Great historical overview, especially from the social welfare standpoint. As many history books go, it is very one-sided, but still a good read.

I was required to have this book for a class at Wright State University. I am very pleased with the great condition of this book. Also the very fast delivery was appreciated.

This book was in better condition than I thought it would be in. I began my classes today and was prepared with the required books thanks to the timely manner in which I received my books.

These people delivered this book in 5 business days. Seriously not bad. The book is in great condition and its used. I would have had to pay more for it used here at Rutgers. Definitely ordering from here again.

The item arrived quickly, in great condition and was very well-packaged. Thank you very much. I will be sure to order from them again. I strongly recommend this service.

This is a textbook for a class. I have been surprised at how interesting the topic and presentation are.

The author does a good job going through each presidency. What brilliance! He started in the past and led up to the present (I'm making fun of the first editorial review which lauded the author for the "time-sequence" structure of the outline. That was for another edition (but I've got this edition).

My only gripe about it is that the author finds no redeeming qualities in conservative presidents, and paints liberal presidents as tormented angels...even LBJ.