American Dream: Three Women, Ten Kids, and a Nation’s Drive to End Welfare

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In this definitive work, two-time Pulitzer finalist Jason DeParle, author of A Good Provider Is One Who Leaves, cuts between the mean streets of Milwaukee and the corridors of Washington to produce a masterpiece of literary journalism. At the heart of the story are three cousins whose different lives follow similar trajectories. Leaving welfare, Angie puts her heart in her work. Jewell bets on an imprisoned man. Opal guards a tragic secret that threatens her kids and her life. DeParle traces  their family history back six generations to slavery and weaves poor people, politicians, reformers, and rogues into a spellbinding epic.

With a vivid sense of humanity, DeParle demonstrates that although we live in a country where anyone can make it, generation after generation some families don’t. To read American Dream is to understand why.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0143034375
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 30, 2005
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 432 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780143034377
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143034377
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.98 x 8.44 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #1,570,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #125 in Poverty #178 in Social Services & Welfare (Books) #282 in Sociology of Cl***
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