Customer Reviews

Within Our Reach: Breaking the Cycle of Disadvantage

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Lisbeth Schorr has written a first-rate book filled with extensive research on community programs that work. Anyone who is trying to find solutions to problems in their communities will find this resource extremely valuable. I've made it required reading for all my medical students doing a Leadership in Community Medicine elective, and the students have found it not only enormously readable and practical, but many have also purchased their own copies for future reference.

While the publication date could suggest that "Within Our Reach" is dated, I don't think so. We've done little to address poverty, unemployment, education and health concerns of the bottom sixth of the population. The challenges for those in poverty remain the same (only more pronounced) and the solutions viable (if only we would act). The author stresses throughout that children are particularly vulnerable, but the family must be helped as well because of its critical influence on children.

Schorr provides plenty of statistics to convince you that she's an authority and has done her homework. The book remains interesting throughout from the scenarios she paints of the lives of the people who often face not one but a number of challenges. The book remains hopeful from the descriptions of programs and strategies that do work.

One can't help but come away with the understanding that different national and state policies are critical for these issues to be addressed and that broader resolve must be developed for anything substantial to take place. Regardless of these sobering conclusions, one realizes from the description of successes that a better life for all citizens is "Within Our Reach."

-Jack H. Bender, author of Disregarded: Transforming the School and Workplace through Deep Respect and Courage