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Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City Paperback – Illustrated, August 15, 2014

by Kathryn Edin (Author), Timothy J. Nelson (Author)

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Across the political spectrum, unwed fatherhood is denounced as one of the leading social problems of today. Doing the Best I Can is a strikingly rich, paradigm-shifting look at fatherhood among inner-city men often dismissed as “deadbeat dads.” Kathryn Edin and Timothy J. Nelson examine how couples in challenging straits come together and get pregnant so quickly―without planning. The authors chronicle the high hopes for forging lasting family bonds that pregnancy inspires, and pinpoint the fatal flaws that often lead to the relationship’s demise. They offer keen insight into a radical redefinition of family life where the father-child bond is central and parental ties are peripheral.

Drawing on years of fieldwork, Doing the Best I Can shows how mammoth economic and cultural changes have transformed the meaning of fatherhood among the urban poor. Intimate interviews with more than 100 fathers make real the significant obstacles faced by low-income men at every step in the familial process: from the difficulties of romantic relationships, to decision-making dilemmas at conception, to the often celebratory moment of birth, and finally to the hardships that accompany the early years of the child's life, and beyond.

Print length

296 pages
Language

English
Publisher

University of California Press
Publication date

August 15, 2014
Dimensions

6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

9780520283923
ISBN-13

978-0520283923
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An essential book." -- Harold Pollack ― The Washington Post/WonkBlog Published On: 2013-07-01

From the Inside Flap

This warm and often moving book cuts through the rampant stereotypes and misconceptions to give us the most insightful treatment yet of fatherhood in the inner city. Nelson and Edin are to be congratulated. Bob Herbert, Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos and former op-ed columnist for The New York Times.

With a clear-eyed honesty and frankness, Edin and Nelson probe the experiences of fathers among our urban poor, and what they discover is both surprising and hopeful. Edin and Nelson should be applauded for their bold on-the-ground research which pushes us to consider that men whose lives are often marked by disorder having children can often be a stabilizing force. Doing the Best I Can turns many of our assumptions about fatherhood on their head. Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here

"Doing the Best I Can will change the way we think about unwed fatherhood in the inner city. The book, based on in-depth interviews with low-income black and white fathers in Camden NJ and Philadelphia, is a real page-turner. Nelson and Edin s well-written narratives on the lives of low-income fathers, their role as fathers, and relationships with their children are replete with fresh insights. This compelling book is a must-read." William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

I am confident that this book will instantly become the leading source of information on the nature of unwed fatherhood today. It shows a new path of intimate life for unwed young men, suggesting that marriage is no longer central in low-income young adults intimate partnerships. It will be an eye-opener, a detailed portrait we have not seen before. Andrew Cherlin, Johns Hopkins University

This book smashes the stereotype of poor dads as the hit and run or deadbeat men who care only about casual sex and have no interest in the resulting kids. It is also unflinchingly honest about the sometimes egregious behavior of the men. Its poignant narratives and astute analysis make it the book to read on poor fathers. Paula England, New York University

From the Back Cover

“This warm and often moving book cuts through the rampant stereotypes and misconceptions to give us the most insightful treatment yet of fatherhood in the inner city. Nelson and Edin are to be congratulated.”―Bob Herbert, Distinguished Senior Fellow at Demos and former op-ed columnist for The New York Times.

“With a clear-eyed honesty and frankness, Edin and Nelson probe the experiences of fathers among our urban poor, and what they discover is both surprising and hopeful. Edin and Nelson should be applauded for their bold on-the-ground research which pushes us to consider that men whose lives are often marked by disorder having children can often be a stabilizing force. Doing the Best I Can turns many of our assumptions about fatherhood on their head.” ―Alex Kotlowitz, author of There Are No Children Here

"Doing the Best I Can will change the way we think about unwed fatherhood in the inner city. The book, based on in-depth interviews with low-income black and white fathers in Camden NJ and Philadelphia, is a real page-turner. Nelson and Edin’s well-written narratives on the lives of low-income fathers, their role as fathers, and relationships with their children are replete with fresh insights. This compelling book is a must-read."―William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

“I am confident that this book will instantly become the leading source of information on the nature of unwed fatherhood today. It shows a new path of intimate life for unwed young men, suggesting that marriage is no longer central in low-income young adults’ intimate partnerships. It will be an eye-opener, a detailed portrait we have not seen before.”―Andrew Cherlin, Johns Hopkins University

“This book smashes the stereotype of poor dads as the ‘hit and run’ or ‘deadbeat’ men who care only about casual sex and have no interest in the resulting kids. It is also unflinchingly honest about the sometimes egregious behavior of the men. Its poignant narratives and astute analysis make it the book to read on poor fathers.”―Paula England, New York University

About the Author

Kathryn Edin is Distinguished Bloomberg Professor in the Department of Sociology and also teaches in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences and Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. She is the coauthor of Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City, Promises I Can Keep: Why Poor Women Put Motherhood before Marriage, and Making Ends Meet: How Single Mothers Survive Welfare and Low-Wage Work.

Timothy Nelson is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of Every Time I Feel the Spirit: Religious Experience and Ritual in an African American Church.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0520283929
Publisher ‏ : ‎ University of California Press; First Edition (August 15, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 296 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780520283923
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0520283923
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.07 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,393,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,665 in Sociology of Urban Areas
- #3,024 in General Gender Studies
- #5,897 in Cultural Anthropology (Books)

Customer Reviews:
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Kathryn J. Edin
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KATHRYN J. EDIN is the William Church Osborn Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. The
author of nine books, Edin is widely recognized for using direct, in-depth observation to illuminate key mysteries about poverty: “In a field of poverty experts who rarely meet the poor, Edin usefully defies convention” (New York Times).
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Timothy Jon Nelson
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Kyarra

I can't even put the book down. Sociology major's dream book!

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2019

Verified Purchase

Such a good book! My father and my ex husband were similar to the men and this book. It just gives so much insight into a world that we could only imagine. The fathers and the author's tell such a story that you can completely understand the struggles in their communities. Great read. I would recommend for anyone that is interested in real people with real stories.

4 people found this helpful

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Booker T

A realistic angle on the topic

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

I'm not sure any topic is more important to me than this one, because I know the inner city population this book addresses, and I love them. The situation is both disgusting and understandable, pitiful and interesting. Mostly, it is understandable and worth our investment.

6 people found this helpful

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Art Carden

The authors do extensive interviews that give readers a look into the lives of unwed urban fathers.

Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2017

Verified Purchase

Doing the Best I Can, Kathryn Edin & Timothy Nelson: I bought this on Bryan Caplan's recommendation, and it doesn't disappoint. He's right that it's absolutely engrossing: the authors do extensive interviews that give readers a look into the lives of unwed urban fathers. The cultural difference is particularly puzzling as the authors point to a near-reversal of usual patterns. Where we used to sing "first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes blah blah with a baby carriage," the men surveyed in "Doing the Best I Can" have children before love and marriage are really even on the radar. As the authors (and Caplan) note, they're also very good at rationalizing bad choices like quitting jobs, dropping out of school, and so on. A lot of their subjects exhibit an almost defiant disregard for responsibility toward the mother and their children, and the bar they set for what counts as "taking care of" their kids is extremely low.

6 people found this helpful

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Desiree Little

Interesting read!

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2017

Verified Purchase

Really interesting book. It can really change your perspective on how you view the whole parenting process. Very well done

2 people found this helpful

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Whitney Lenise

Psychology book

Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2019

Verified Purchase

Exceeded my expectations

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Phyllis J. Jackson

Review for the book Doing the Best I Can: Fatherhood in the Inner City

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2013

Verified Purchase

I bought it for my husband and he is in the process of reading it. He says it is an excellent book so far.

One person found this helpful

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Brianna Mingledorff

awesome book, great condition, quick shipment

Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2015

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This book came in great condition, just like the description said it would. Also, it's a great read!

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Rodney J. Reynolds

What possible reason justifies $24 for the kindle version????

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2013

I haven't read the book and won't at this price. Seriously, if the publisher worries about undercutting demand for the hardcover book, don't offer the kindle version. Just nutty. Hope it is a good book. Maybe someone will read it and tell me. The review in slate suggests that it might be worth reading.

5 people found this helpful

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