Poverty is not a character flaw. To so quickly slide from the great middle into the underworld of the poor validated our suspicions that perhaps these citizens never really were bona fide, middle class Americans. If it weren't for their compassion and encouragement I would not be able to contain my rage about the assault on the poor. While a work like “The Rich and the Rest of Us” can easily become partisan, Smiley and West largely avoid playing divisive, partisan politics. About The Rich And The Rest Of Us. --Aristotle”, “The Poverty Tour provided the opportunity to meet many people who had been living paycheck to paycheck even before the economic downturn. At the very least, read John Scalzi's September 2005 entry, "Being Poor" - it won't even take you a full 5-minutes. And that's a bold statement, coming from a true cynic. The book is short on reports of grass root efforts to address poverty--the kinds of things that might give us hope that we can do something while awaiting and hoping for real governmental reform of priorities. But not what I'm looking for in a full book. Finally finished this book, and I certainly was moved. The authors throw in some barely legible graphics of poverty statistics and a thin sprinkling of narratives of real poor people they met on their "Poverty Tour." Smiley became a radio commentator in 1991, and starting in 1996 he hosted the talk show, “In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme. The book is rounded out by a 12 point proposal for alleviating poverty in the United States, including initiatives from instituting a living-wage to formal representation of poor people’s interests in Washington to balance well-funded lobbyists. Tavis is also a hero of mine. £9.60. A good one. Twitter Facebook Link Print. I've studied poverty and 'development' economics for years and this text was even more enlightening than I could have anticipated, just explosively compelling. Welcome back. The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto. After their travels and discoveries, they published a new book together, The Rich and the Rest of Us. “The income of high-end professionals is a cost the rest of us bear. I think this is something everyone should read. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. I am interested in poverty; I think the issue is of the greatest importance in our nation, and in the world, and I am saddened that--quite literally--these are the only two people in the. --Aristotle”. Poverty is a complex problem and it will be the undoing of this country if we don’t as a nation focus on understanding and solving the problem. After all, pointing out that poverty exists and calling out those actually responsible for it is just not done in polite company. 800 ratings, 3.85 average rating, 107 reviews. April 17th 2012 232 pp., ISBN: 978-1401940638 (pbk). This book is a little outdated and it’s sad that things have only gotten worse. I read most of it, but I really couldn't rally myself to get to the finish line with this one. Such an easy read- it clearly explains difficult topics and has several charts and graphs to illustrate the history of poverty in the US. Tavis Smiley is a talk show host, author, political commentator, entrepreneur, advocate and philanthropist. Since the great recession has impoverished so many many formerly hard working middle class Americans we mus. ISBN: 9781401940638. The very real crisis of "the rich and the rest of us" makes taking this on very critical. If you want to understand why there are millions of poor people in America, this book is a MUST read. Capitalism needs money to function. One particularly irritating piece that should have been caught by an editor: in chapter 3 they describe a visit of the Poverty Tour to Columbus, Mississippi, and the town resistance as personified by a person named Caradine. And I'm an atheist so you know I have no moral barometer, every godless day brings me one step closer to murdering a dozen lobbyists. Details. This writing can help all of understand where the money is, why it is not in the system and how to infuse the society with hope and money. Be the first to ask a question about The Rich and the Rest of Us. If people do no. I was hoping it might be, but it's just a sloppy book in need of a good editor. & FREE Delivery on your first eligible order to UK or Ireland. This writing can help all of understand where the money is, why it is not in the system and how to infuse the society with hope and money. Verified Purchase. The profiles of some of the desperately poor people they met on their poverty tour are heartbreaking, and the historical analysis of how government has gradually abandoned anti-poverty programs over the past few decades is deeply troubling. Publication Date: 04/12/12. But there are not enough narratives to balance the repetitive. The Rich and the Rest of Us A Poverty Manifesto. As i have great respect for both of the authors of this book, and they are both talented orators, i was really looking forward to reading this. i’ve longed admired Cornell West (in spite of his religiosity – he at least seems to embody what most christians claim to be, which is empathetic, kind, forgiving, etc. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Absolutely loved this book! We want to raise awareness about poverty and discuss how best to end it- in out lifetime. The rich and the rest of us : a poverty manifesto by Smiley, Tavis, 1964- author. The very real crisis of "the rich and the rest of. Drawing parallels with the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, and the women's liberation movement the authors insist that change beginsby aanalyzing the stigmas and connotations and images conjured in our current lexicon. However, the mere fact that the condition presented in the book have only gotten worse in the intervening years is a testament to the validity of the work. More importantly, how many of those who listen will be moved to substantial action? Based on the authors’ 3 week “Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience”, which traversed the country to engage with individuals struggling with poverty and to meet with activists and nonprofits confronting the issue on various fronts,this book balances emotional testimonies. It is a lack of money, period! It is a lack of money, period! ), If you are familiar with the work of West and Smiley, nothing in this book will surprise you. I didn't feel like I was learning anything, or getting a different or more in-depth view of the situation. First of all, this is a highly localized book. Buy the selected items together. Drawing parallels with the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, and the women's liberation movement the authors insist that change beginsby aanalyzing the stigmas and connotations and images conjured in our current lexicon. I get the feeling that the people who really should be reading this book will either miss it or ignore it. It is just that it is the kind of book that the choir will pretty much pick up, nod in agreement, and then move on, and the clueless will just completely miss. Uploaded by I caught Tavis Smiley on an episode of Carson Daly and quickly requested it from my library. Sold by The BAP Goods and ships from Amazon Fulfillment. I have read a number of his articles and have watched several interviews of him. Last summer, media personality Tavis Smiley and Professor Cornell West undertook a 'poverty tour' of ten or eleven states, video taping as they went, and reporting on what they found on their radio program. station33.cebu After attending Indiana University, he worked during the late 1980s as an aide to Tom Bradley, the mayor of Los Angeles. Poverty is a complex problem and it will be the undoing of this country if we don’t as a nation focus on understanding and solving the problem. The Rich and The Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, a collaborative work by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, constructs a portrait of poverty in the United States today that is at once disheartening as well as inspiring and empowering. The Rich and the Rest of Us is the next step in the journey that began with "The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience" Smiley and West’s 18-city bus tour gave voice to the plight of impoverished Americans of all races, colors, and creeds. And I'm an atheist so you know I have no moral barometer, every godless day brings me one step closer to murdering a dozen lobbyists. I agree wholeheartedly with the major premise of the book: to change poverty we must first change the language we use to think and communicate about poverty. . I have a better understanding of our current economic crisis after reading this book and feel even more informed to defend those living in poverty when I hear people playing the blame game. YES. anybody that can refer to “brother rush” [Limbaugh] without making a gagging sound is a truly open and loving person. The billionaire class has added $308 billion to its wealth in four weeks, even as a record 26 million people lost their jobs. If you are looking for a book to give your conservative brother-in-law to convince him that his judgments about the poor in the U.S. and governmental priorities need reexamination, this is not it. "The Rich and the Rest of Us" is what it sells itself to be: a poverty manifesto. Suitable for high schoolers and up. Award-winning broadcaster Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West, one of the nation’s leading democratic intellectuals, co-hosts of Public Radio’s Smiley & West , now take on the "P" word—poverty.The Rich and the Rest of Us is the next step in the journey that began with "The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience." See what's new with book lending at the Internet Archive. Unfortunately, i think they knocked it out over a beer or two, or perhaps had their favorite college kids do it; it is sloppy, redundant, all over the place. 03/28/2014 11:48 am ET Updated May 28, 2014 The growth in income inequality in the United States since the 1980s stems from two different sources. It is made for the people in the US and now. A challenge to change America's dialogue on race and justice to include concern for the poor. Helpful stats and anecdotes throughout, though failed to enlighten or inspire me as their brilliant show and live lectures do. The Rich and The Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, a collaborative work by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, constructs a portrait of poverty in the United States today that is at once disheartening as well as inspiring and empowering. The book examines poverty in America and how to eliminate it. The Rich and the Rest of Us: Gross Inequality Versus Democracy Stephen H. Unger January 13, 2009. There is the authors maintain a lot we can do. At the end of the day, I do have some mixed feelings about the book. Smiley and West are saying a lot that needs to be said, but how many out there will listen? There is this gap between the haves and the have-nots, a growing gap, in fact. The rich and the rest of us is to make [people] think about the pervasiveness of poverty, its real causation, and the threat it poses to our democracy. by SmileyBooks. West and Smiley call for a new society of compassion, fairness, and equality. Mind you, I don't mind reading statistics and percentages...but I think the average person would be quickly disenchanted with this (similar to my review of Jesse Ventura's book). Two great minds with so much wisdom and yet I got the impression that this book was hastily written and produced. Unfortunately, i think they knocked it out over a beer or two, or perhaps had their favorite college kids do it; it is sloppy, redundant, all over the place. The first is that the incomes of typical households have stagnated. I read this book in 2020, so the data presented was, pardon the term, dated. (Typos?!) Temporarily out of stock. The profiles of some of the desperately poor people they met on their poverty tour are heartbreaking, and the historical analysis of how government has gradually abandoned anti-poverty programs over the past few decades is deeply troubling. Oh, That’s Rich According to a new report from the Institute for Policy Studies, between 18 March and 22 April the wealth of America’s richest people grew 10.5 percent . Available as a Kindle eBook. Be the first one to, The rich and the rest of us : a poverty manifesto, New York : SmileyBooks ; Carlsbad, Calif. : Distributed by Hay House, Advanced embedding details, examples, and help, United States -- Economic conditions -- 21st century, Poverty -- Government policy -- United States, Terms of Service (last updated 12/31/2014). Buy New. Good material for reflection during the upcoming election. Capitalism needs money to function. yes yes yes. More than a simple analysis the book also offers clear advice foe not just changing the dialogue about poverty but the reality of it. Read the actual poverty manifesto, it's chapter 7 I think, and you will find the most valuable parts of this book. The richest 1 percent of Americans currently hold wealth worth $16.8 trillion, nearly $2 trillion more than the bottom 90 percent. yes yes yes. 14 day loan required to access EPUB and PDF files. This item: The Rich And The Rest Of Us: A Poverty Manifesto by Tavis Smiley Paperback $17.09. That is my question. I was hoping it might be, but it's just a sloppy book in need of a good editor. I get the feeling that the people who really should be reading this book will either miss it or ignore it. The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto is a 2012 political, non-fiction book written by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West. Their ideas for solutions never quite make it to profound - still using gushy platitudes and bandaid attempts to fix an irretrievably broken system. The authors throw in some barely legible graphics of poverty statistics and a thin sprinkling of narratives of real poor people they met on their "Poverty Tour." It is an impassioned, sincere call to action, nothing less than the eradication of poverty in America. I read the entire thing in one night and then ended up going to buy my own copy because I found I wanted to high light important pieces and write my own notes on topics. If people do not have money, then capitalism can’t survive. Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat. FREE Shipping on orders over $25.00. I followed their tour intently, and I was very moved by the stories of the people they met along the way. Promise. The content is fine, but more for motivating speeches or the like. Join us at 7PM on Thursday, May 31st, in Atlanta at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, for a conversation with Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West on poverty. Based on the authors’ 3 week “Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience”, which traversed the country to engage with individuals struggling with poverty and to meet with activists and nonprofits confronting the issue on various fronts,this book balances emotional testimonies of life in poverty with a wealth of data and statistics regarding wealth inequality in the United States. In fact, cutting rich people's taxes is often very bad for the rest of us (beyond the worsening inequality and hobbled government it produces). By Tavis Smiley, Cornel West. However, I wanted to understand what the argument was and am glad to say it's far from any guilt propaganda, but rather educational and humane reading. Nothing the authors propose is beyond doing but it will require radical systemic and paradigmatic change. This is not due to the content. The most unsettling undercurrent throughout the book is the number of children living in poverty. West and Smiley call for a new society of compassion, fairness. If you are looking for a book to give your conservative brother-in-law to convince him that his judgments about the poor in the U.S. and governmental priorities need reexamination, this is not it. Refresh and try again. Smiley & West bring me peace in thi. THE RICH AND THE REST OF US: A POVERTY MANIFESTO By Cornel West and Tavis Smiley “Our intent with The rich and the rest of us is to make [people] think about the pervasiveness of poverty, its real causation, and the threat it poses to our democracy. 77. Kindle eBooks can be read on any device with the free Kindle app. The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto: Amazon.co.uk: Smiley, Tavis: 9781401940638: Books. Start by marking “The Rich and the Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto” as Want to Read: Error rating book. 50 years from now it would look ridiculous or hysterical. Tavis Smiley and Cornel West provide a comprehensive, compelling account of the history and experience of poverty in the United States. If you are familiar with the work of West and Smiley, nothing in this book will surprise you. The Rich and the Rest of Us Quotes Showing 1-5 of 5. “In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme. This book is a great look of all the things most of us can already see bits and pieces of. There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. on February 14, 2020, There are no reviews yet. i wish they had. Tavis is also a hero of mine. The Rich and the Rest of Us. If you decide not to read the Manifesto, fine. Just read Chapter 7--it's the heart of the book and the best part. Tavis Smiley and Cornel West provide a comprehensive, compelling account of the history and experience of poverty in the United States. The title, Tavis, The Rich and the Rest of Us. Indeed, some economists assert that the middle class evaporated decades ago.”, Goodreads Members' Most Anticipated Books of April. More info: https://www.facebook.com/events/472964262718193/. Award-winning broadcaster Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West, one of the nation’s leading democratic intellectuals, co-hosts of Public Radio’s. I am interested in poverty; I think the issue is of the greatest importance in our nation, and in the world, and I am saddened that--quite literally--these are the only two people in the media covering the issue. AbeBooks.com: The Rich And The Rest Of Us: A Poverty Manifesto (9781401940638) by Smiley, Tavis; West, Cornel and a great selection of similar New, Used … According to some historians, the month of April is actually named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, by way of the Romans.... Record unemployment and rampant corporate avarice, empty houses but homeless families, dwindling opportunities in an increasingly paralyzed nation—these are the realities of 21st-century America, land of the free and home of the new middle class poor. The Super Rich and the Rest of Us. Award-winning broadcaster Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West, one of the nation's leading democratic intellectuals, co-hosts of Public Radio's Smiley & West , now take on the “P” word—poverty.The Rich and the Rest of Us is the next step in the journey that began with “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience.” The study finds Canada’s income gap between the rich and poor is growing, largely because the lion’s share of Canada’s economic growth is going to the richest 10% of families. Finally finished this book, and I certainly was moved. It's very factual and points out exactly what is the problem and why and how it has gotten this bad. I LOVED THIS BOOK; I couldn't put it down! Ever since then I have followed Cornel West's career. "The Rich and the Rest of Us" is what it sells itself to be: a poverty manifesto. Several examples show this. Disappointed. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Poverty is not a character flaw. Smiley grew up in Kokomo, Indiana. It is just that it is the kind of book that the choir will pretty much pick up, nod in agreement, and then move on, and the clueless will just completely miss. The Rich and The Rest of Us: A Poverty Manifesto, a collaborative work by Tavis Smiley and Cornel West, constructs a portrait of poverty in the United States today that is at once disheartening as well as inspiring and empowering. Though, this book has nothing to do with current events, but as we all know, history repeats itself. While a little outdated nearly 8 years later it is still extremely relevant to matters today. I felt like I was listening to a motivational speech. Record unemployment and rampant corporate avarice, empty houses but homeless families, dwindling opportunities in an increasingly paralyzed nation-these are the realities of 21st-century America, land of the free and home of the new middle class poor. $12 Reviewed by James Gambrell, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. “No matter how successful those who were raised in poverty become, they are haunted by the fear of reliving it” (p. 7). If you want to understand why there are millions of poor people in America, this book is a MUST read. Cornel West is my hero. As i have great respect for both of the authors of this book, and they are both talented orators, i was really looking forward to reading this. Their ideas for solutions never quite make it to profound - still using gushy platitudes and bandaid attempts to fix an irretrievably broken system. Somehow it just differ how it repeats. 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