Changing Lives through Literature (Paperback)

~ Robert P. Waxler (Editor), (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book is the result of work that Waxler and Trounstine have done within the Massachusetts Correctional System. An alternative to jail, Waxlers program, Changing Lives Through Literature, encourages offenders to examine their lives through discussions of literary works. This book contains selections used in the program as well as discussion ideas. In addition, before each section readers will find discussion of the theme (i.e., violence, identity/voice, friendship/love, and family) and explanations of why the particular stories were selected and how they can be used to facilitate discussion. The authors represented include James Dickey, John Steinbeck, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and Jack London. An interesting addition to criminal justice, penology, or social welfare collections, this might also work in education collections for teachers who are looking for innovative ways to teach contemporary classics.Danna C. Bell-Russel, Lib. of Congress, Washington DC
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The title of this collection reveals the editors' ambitious premise: that literature has the ability to transform lives. Not just any lives: criminal lives. These selections (some stories, some novel excerpts), which range across the modern American literary map, from Jack London, Zora Neale Hurston, and John Steinbeck to James Dickey, Dorothy Allison, and Toni Morrison, were used by the editors in an alternative sentencing reading group in Massachusetts. In its first incarnation, they would all gather--offenders, one of the editors, even the judge himself--at a local college's dean's office and discuss these works. It has since been extended to groups of women offenders, and the encouraging results in both instances have given rise to this book. The selections are divided into four categories--violence, identity/voice, friendship/love, and family--with an introduction for each. Each selection ends with reflections from each of the editors, encouraging, they hope, the notion of dialogue and inquiry. James O'Laughlin

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press (June 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0268008396
• ISBN-13: 978-0268008390
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,522,703 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good book. buy it!, May 13, 1999

By A Customer

From Library Journal: This book is the result of work that Waxler and Trounstine have done within the Massachusetts Correctional System. An alternative to jail, Waxlers program, Changing Lives Through Literature, encourages offenders to examine their lives through discussions of literary works. This book contains selections used in the program as well as discussion ideas. In addition, before each section readers will find discussion of the theme (i.e., violence, identity/voice, friendship/love, and family) and explanations of why the particular stories were selected and how they can be used to facilitate discussion. The authors represented include James Dickey, John Steinbeck, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, and Jack London. An interesting addition to criminal justice, penology, or social welfare collections, this might also work in education collections for teachers who are looking for innovative ways to teach contemporary classics.Danna C. Bell-Russel, Lib. of Congress, Washington DC

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful book-magical, February 25, 2001

By A Customer

The book offers several important selctions from contemporary literature and demonstrates through the discussions by Waxler and Trousntine how powerful literature can be. The book should be read and used in any group that still believes in the possibilities of creating a human society.