
Our Kids
The American Dream in Crisis
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Narrated by:
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Arthur Morey
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By:
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Robert D. Putnam
About this listen
A groundbreaking examination of the growing inequality gap from the best-selling author of Bowling Alone: why fewer Americans today have the opportunity for upward mobility.
It's the American dream: get a good education, work hard, buy a house, and achieve prosperity and success. This is the America we believe in - a nation of opportunity, constrained only by ability and effort. But during the last 25 years, we have seen a disturbing "opportunity gap" emerge. Americans have always believed in equality of opportunity, the idea that all kids, regardless of their family background, should have a decent chance to improve their lot in life. Now this central tenet of the American dream seems no longer true or, at the least, much less true than it was. Robert Putnam - about whom The Economist said, "[H]is scholarship is wide-ranging, his intelligence luminous, his tone modest, his prose unpretentious and frequently funny" - offers a personal but also authoritative look at this new American crisis. Putnam begins with his high school class of 1959 in Port Clinton, Ohio. By and large the vast majority of those students - "our kids" - went on to lives better than those of their parents. But their children and grandchildren have had harder lives amid diminishing prospects. Putnam tells the tale of lessening opportunity through poignant life stories of rich and poor kids from cities and suburbs across the country, drawing on a formidable body of research done especially for this book.
Our Kids is a rare combination of individual testimony and rigorous evidence. Putnam provides a disturbing account of the American dream that should initiate a deep examination of the future of our country.
Download the accompanying reference guide.©2015 Robert D. Putnam. All rights reserved. (P)2015 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.Listeners also enjoyed...
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-
-
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People who viewed this also viewed...
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Overall
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-
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By: Robert D. Putnam, and others
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The Upswing
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- By: Robert D. Putnam
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An eminent political scientist's brilliant analysis of economic, social and political trends over the past century demonstrating how we have gone from an individualistic "I" society to a more communitarian "We" society and then back again and how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation - from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids.
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-
Good historical analysis but weak recommendations.
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The Upswing
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Overall
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Performance
-
Story
Deep and accelerating inequality; unprecedented political polarization; vitriolic public discourse; a fraying social fabric; public and private narcissism — Americans today seem to agree on only one thing: This is the worst of times. But we’ve been here before. During the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, America was highly individualistic, starkly unequal, fiercely polarized, and deeply fragmented, just as it is today.
-
-
For Progressives only. Won't make sense otherwise
- By Dennis G. on 12-19-20
By: Robert D. Putnam, and others
-
Coming Apart
- The State of White America, 1960–2010
- By: Charles Murray
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Coming Apart, Charles Murray explores the formation of American classes that are different in kind from anything we have ever known, focusing on whites as a way of driving home the fact that the trends he describes do not break along lines of race or ethnicity.
-
-
Brilliant & Flawed
- By Douglas C. Bates on 05-15-12
By: Charles Murray
-
Alienated America
- Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse
- By: Timothy P. Carney
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Respected conservative journalist and commentator Timothy P. Carney continues the conversation begun with Hillbilly Elegy and the classic Bowling Alone in this hard-hitting analysis that identifies the true factor behind the decline of the American dream: It is not purely the result of economics as the left claims, but the collapse of the institutions that made us successful, including marriage, church, and civic life.
-
-
A good companion to Murray's Coming Apart
- By Marie on 03-18-19
-
Bowling Alone: Revised and Updated
- The Collapse and Revival of American Community
- By: Robert D. Putnam
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 18 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Drawing on vast new data that reveal Americans' changing behavior, Putnam shows how we have become increasingly disconnected from one another and how social structures - whether they be PTA, church, or political parties - have disintegrated. Until the publication of this groundbreaking work, no one had so deftly diagnosed the harm that these broken bonds have wreaked on our physical and civic health, nor had anyone exalted their fundamental power in creating a society that is happy, healthy, and safe.
-
-
Long Long book
- By William S. Gross on 11-13-17
By: Robert D. Putnam
-
American Grace
- How Religion Divides and Unites Us
- By: Robert D. Putnam, David E. Campbell
- Narrated by: Dan John Miller
- Length: 18 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
American Grace takes its findings from two of the largest, most comprehensive surveys ever conducted on religion and public life in America, plus in-depth studies of diverse congregations---among them a megachurch, a Mormon congregation, a Catholic parish, a reform Jewish synagogue, and an African American congregation.
-
-
Interesting Analysis
- By Daniel on 10-08-12
By: Robert D. Putnam, and others
-
The Upswing
- How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
- By: Robert D. Putnam
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An eminent political scientist's brilliant analysis of economic, social and political trends over the past century demonstrating how we have gone from an individualistic "I" society to a more communitarian "We" society and then back again and how we can learn from that experience to become a stronger, more unified nation - from the author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids.
-
-
Good historical analysis but weak recommendations.
- By RealSmartFun on 08-23-22
By: Robert D. Putnam
-
The Upswing
- How America Came Together a Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again
- By: Robert D. Putnam, Shaylyn Romney Garrett - contributor
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 12 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Deep and accelerating inequality; unprecedented political polarization; vitriolic public discourse; a fraying social fabric; public and private narcissism — Americans today seem to agree on only one thing: This is the worst of times. But we’ve been here before. During the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, America was highly individualistic, starkly unequal, fiercely polarized, and deeply fragmented, just as it is today.
-
-
For Progressives only. Won't make sense otherwise
- By Dennis G. on 12-19-20
By: Robert D. Putnam, and others
-
Coming Apart
- The State of White America, 1960–2010
- By: Charles Murray
- Narrated by: Traber Burns
- Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In Coming Apart, Charles Murray explores the formation of American classes that are different in kind from anything we have ever known, focusing on whites as a way of driving home the fact that the trends he describes do not break along lines of race or ethnicity.
-
-
Brilliant & Flawed
- By Douglas C. Bates on 05-15-12
By: Charles Murray
-
Alienated America
- Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse
- By: Timothy P. Carney
- Narrated by: Charles Constant
- Length: 10 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Respected conservative journalist and commentator Timothy P. Carney continues the conversation begun with Hillbilly Elegy and the classic Bowling Alone in this hard-hitting analysis that identifies the true factor behind the decline of the American dream: It is not purely the result of economics as the left claims, but the collapse of the institutions that made us successful, including marriage, church, and civic life.
-
-
A good companion to Murray's Coming Apart
- By Marie on 03-18-19
What listeners say about Our Kids
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- Austin Ashwill
- 06-26-22
Good companion to Coming Apart by Charles Murray
good companion book to Coming Apart by Charles Murray and Dream Hoarders by Richard Reeves
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- Real People
- 07-05-15
A Must Read for Anyone Who Cares!
Finally, a research-based complete look at the good, bad, and ugly in the Educational System in America. Forcing a wide-eyed look at what is really happening in the US and reminding the reader that it is just to easy to blame it on the educators! Well worth reading--let's hope there will be action by many!
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- Doc
- 06-29-16
Required reading
This book should be required reading for anyone concerned with education in the US. Let me expand on the terms of that statement. By anyone, I mean teachers, administrators, parents, politicians, volunteers, and activists. By education, I mean K-12 and higher ed. Though the most salient points of this research cry for action at the K-12 level, there are important implications for higher ed as well, particularly with regard to the role of community colleges and the proprietary sector. There's nothing less at stake than the future of our economy and our democracy and that elusive conception we term "the American Dream."
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- Mastiff Enthusiast
- 06-15-19
well thought out, wish there were more stats
very effective use of narratives to illustrate points. but being a nerd, I wish there were a few more nationwide statistics to support the story. I also really like these fact that he addy least *tried* to talk about solutions. so many of these books point out the problem but then have no real solution to it. hopefully a politician somewhere is listening.
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-07-15
Excellent book raised some troubling issues...
Really fascinating portrayal and explanation of what is happening with advantaged and disadvantaged kids in today's America, and why all of us should care and should take action!
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- Jacob Weinberg
- 07-14-22
A Must Read to Understand the Growing Wealth Gap
Putnam did a great job explaining how in the 1950s everybody had similar opportunities, but how recent developments have focused opportunities for Success on the children of wealthy kids. it's very telling about the causes of the continued loss and lack of opportunities for poorer kids to achieve success in life.
Some have commented that's only if progressives would understand the issues of this book. I agree, because only progressives actually want to improve upon the situation and the issues we have in this country. Others choose to try to maintain the status quo or regress to a time where people had a lot less right and America was more business friendly (i.e. workers have no rights).
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- Amazon Customer
- 09-08-22
Concerning and worthy of action
As an audible, the only negative is that some of the statistical information can be missed. However, the inclusion of pdfs for the Audible is pretty amazing.
As a book, it is a challenge. Once you see the problem, you cannot unsee the problem. And, the standard solutions typically given by either side of the political spectrum feel paltry and insincere. If we are called to love our brother, we appear to be failing.
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- Hailey Lyman
- 08-28-18
Everyone should read this
All the kids in America are "our kids" and it is our responsibility to help them and give them opportunities that they wouldn't otherwise have. If you don't believe that, read this book and it will change your life.
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- Christine
- 03-21-15
Must read for every American parent today.
I only wish a sequel will come out with more stories from American kids. But best ever would be to catch up with the study participants in 5 years, 10 years.....etc.
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- Aneil and Karen Mishra
- 07-28-15
A compelling case for action before it's too late.
A thorough and thoroughly heartbreaking treatment of declining social mobility in the U.S. Nonetheless, it convincing identified its causes as well as potential cures. Must-reading for both conservatives and liberals alike.
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