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Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980 Paperback – March 10, 2015

by Charles Murray (Author)

61 customer reviews

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This classic book serves as a starting point for any serious discussion of welfare reform. Losing Ground argues that the ambitious social programs of the1960s and 1970s actually made matters worse for its supposed beneficiaries, the poor and minorities. Charles Murray startled readers by recommending that we abolish welfare reform, but his position launched a debate culminating in President Clinton's proposal “to end welfare as we know it.”

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Editorial Reviews

Review

Myron Magnet
“There's no better proof of the adage that ideas have consequences than Charles Murray's Losing Ground: in its argument, and in the fact that it changed the world.”

Newt Gingrich
“One of the pivotal books around which American history turned.”

David Frum
“One of the outstanding works of the pioneering era of conservative thought.”

About the Author

Charles Murray is W. H. Brady Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. A prominent political scientist and author, he first came to national attention in 1984 with the publication of Losing Ground, which served as the intellectual foundation for the Welfare Reform Act of 1996. He is the author of several other books, including the New York Times bestseller The Bell Curve, Coming Apart, What It Means to Be a Libertarian, Real Education, and the forthcoming By the People. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from MIT and lives near Washington, D.C.

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Basic Books (March 10, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0465065880
ISBN-13: 978-0465065882
Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 1 x 9.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 61 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,872 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #170 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Public Affairs & Policy > Social Policy
- #210 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Social Sciences > Poverty
- #310 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Public Affairs & Policy > Social Services & Welfare

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ImeldamarcosII

Every adult needs to read this book.

July 28, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read this because it is an historically important book. It's pretty dry and depressing and unfortunately nobody has been able to dispute the depressing social slide rather than improvement for the underclass since Federal government anti-poverty programs began in the early sixties. The main point made by the author is that so much of the anti poverty programs have very real negative incentives to milk them rather than work and this effect is destroying communities and is being ignored by liberal interest groups that are more interested in what is supposed to happen versus what is really happening. His prescriptive social policy seems harsh but his analysis of what has actually resulted from all the government help is brilliantly argued and backed with a deluge of statistics.

7 people found this helpful8 people found this helpful

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Lyle W. Schott

This book should be required reading for everyone, especially ...

August 8, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This book should be required reading for everyone, especially those making decisions in government. Resonates every bit as much (if not more) today.

11 people found this helpful12 people found this helpful

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Joan

It is a detailed analysis of why despite the Great Society and trillions spent on our programs

April 26, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a must read for every voter in America. It is a detailed analysis of why despite the Great Society and trillions spent on our programs, we actually find ourselves in a worse position. What's going on? This book explains it. I plan on handing my copy to my Congressman.

6 people found this helpful7 people found this helpful

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Long term customerTop Contributor: Star Trek

very interesting

November 5, 2012

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

In my quest to understand the history of welfare, I read most of this today and found the author's arguments fairly compelling. The author makes a good case for his conclusions regarding the negative social effects of various governmental policies, especially during the 1960's when welfare skyrocketed. In this book we learn why that may have been the case. Some of the extensive graphs and statistics are a bit difficult to plow through, but the overall effect is convincing.This author has been accused of being a racist in some of his other books and a race figures heavily in this book as well, however the author makes his case here for human behavior regardless of race.

20 people found this helpful21 people found this helpful

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David

Amazing

February 5, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Charles Murray proves why he is the most important social scientist on the planet. He demonstrates through clear evidence that wealth redistribution is good at only one thing... creating more poverty.

3 people found this helpful4 people found this helpful

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Michael S.

Five Stars

May 11, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Should be a required read for politicians.

4 people found this helpful5 people found this helpful

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Holly Golightly

Five Stars

January 18, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Worth reading for social studies

3 people found this helpful4 people found this helpful

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inland sailor

Very well thought out and fascinating book

January 25, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

There will be those who criticize Murray not so much for this book as for his earlier works.
In this book he is spot on...the government enables...no, encourages dependence and destroys initiative.
A very engrossing read which makes for fascinating reading.
Highly recommend when we try to explain the dilemma in which the US finds itself

3 people found this helpful4 people found this helpful

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