Isbister (economics, U. of California-Santa Cruz) draws from political theory, economics, and history to describe the forces and structures responsible for poverty in the Third World. He outlines the various paths taken by developing nations, and evaluates their successes and disappointments. Chapters consider nationalism and independence, economic development and underdevelopment, the impacts of American foreign policy, and prospects for the future. c. Book News Inc.
As seen on PBS’s POV An unprecedented guide to helping black boys achieve success at every stage of their lives—at home, at school, and in the world Regardless of how wealthy or poor their parents are, all black boys must confront and surmount the “achievement gap”: a divide that shows up not only in our sons’ test scores, but in their social and emotional development, their physical well-being, and their outlook on life. As children, they score as high on cognitive tests as their peers, but at some point, the gap emerges. Why? This is the question Joe Brewster, M.D., and Michèle Stephenson asked when their own son, Idris, began struggling in a new school. As they filmed his experiences for their award-winning documentary American Promise, they met an array of researchers who had not only identified the reasons for the gap, but had come up with practical, innovative solutions to close it. In Promises Kept, they explain • how to influence your son’s brain before he’s even born • how to tell the difference between authoritarian and authoritative discipline—and why it matters • how to create an educational program for your son that matches his needs • how to prepare him for explicit and implicit racism in school and in the wider world • how to help your child develop resilience, self-discipline, emotional intelligence, and a positive outlook that will last a lifetime Filled with innovative research, practical strategies, and the voices of parents and children who are grappling with these issues firsthand, Promises Kept will challenge your assumptions and inspire you to make sure your child isn’t lost in the gap. Praise for Promises Kept “The authors offer a plethora of information and advice geared toward the specific developmental needs of black boys. . . . Thorough and detailed, this guidebook is also a call to action. As Brewster sees it, when people of color remain complacent, they not only break a tacit promise to future generations to achieve social equity, they also imperil the futures of both the nation and the planet. A practical and impassioned parenting guide.”—Kirkus Reviews “A penetrating look at the standard practices, at school and at home, that contribute to the achievement gap between the races and the sexes that seems to put black boys at a disadvantage. [Brewster and Stephenson] debunk myths and offer ten parenting and education strategies to improve the prospects for black boys to help them overcome racial stereotypes and low expectations. . . . This is a practical and insightful look at the particular challenges of raising black males.”—Booklist
* Updates include discussion of major initiatives such as the Millennial Development Goals, (MDG) to eliminate global poverty * Examines changes in international politics and approaches to global terrorism following the US-led military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq * Extensively revised facts and figures The seventh edition of this perennial stalwart of the Kumarian Press list continues the discussion of the new American hegemony and the war on terror that began with the previous edition. In particular, Isbister addresses changes in international politics and the impact on the global order of the US-led military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The author also focuses on major initiatives, such as the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, to confront the issue of world poverty. As with all editions of this vibrant text, Isbister writes with clarity and passion, not only about failed promises, but about hope, human potential, and the belief that a just and equitable world system is attainable.
A counter-revisionist examination of JFK and his administration, Promises Kept presents a policy history of major domestic legislative efforts between 1961 and 1963. Bernstein focuses on administraive and congressional progress under Kennedy in civil rights, education, taxes, unemployment, Medicare, and the Peace Corps. He persuasively argues that Kennedy was indeed a successful president, showing that many of JFK's campaign promises were well on their way to enactment by the time of his assassination, even after two years of dealings with a balky and often hostile Congress, and the difficulty of working in a political system changing from conservative to liberal.
"In the case of this book, I can tell you not only when it came to birth but also where. It was in a quite modest kitchen at 1506 Center Street in Sioux City, Iowa, over a period of years in the late 1930s. On a shelf in that kitchen, just above the stove, was a box of cards, each measuring roughly one by three inches, each one containing a verse from the Bible. The box was popularly referred to as “precious promises.” I don’t know if that was the name the publisher gave to the collection or if it was the title earnest Christians had given to such verses long before an enterprising publisher organized a specific collection into printed form; I only know how sacred and beloved the box was to my mother and to untold thousands of other persons at that time. The verses covered a wide area of biblical teaching. Many had a quality of admonition and instruction, but the overall mood was one of encouragement. Those who kept such a box in easy reach were sustained by the contents. Some verses took on such personal significance that they were laid aside on top of the box or beside it, to be looked at more often. Mind you, the owner of the box knew such verses by heart, but there was a peculiar strength in looking at the printed form and holding it in one’s hand. And I might add that by the time she took her “promise for the day” she would already have prayed on her knees and have read a longer portion from the Bible. I revered those promises because they meant so much to my parents, especially my mother, and because on several occasions I had seen how uniquely appropriate a particular verse proved to be at a particular time. That Center Street box has now been lost for half a century or more, so I can’t promise that the verses I embrace in this book were all in that box. The Bible verses I’ve included in this book are verses that have blessed me over the years, and I dare to believe that some or all of them will give a lift or a thought to you. Some have become significant to me in times of pain, some in joy. When you read this book, I’m very sure you will think of a verse that is priceless to you, and you’ll wonder why it’s not in this book. The verse may mean so much to you that perhaps you will reprimand me, even if kindly, for not including it. If you do, I’ll understand. I’ll just know that, whether or not you’ve ever seen a box of precious promises, you have discovered that there are promises that keep us. And I will thank God with you that you have found it to be so." (J. Ellsworth Kalas, adapted from the foreword) This book will contain a discussion guide.
Campaign promises are a cornerstone of representative democracy. Candidates make promises to signal to voters their intentions in office and voters evaluate candidates based on those promises. This study unpacks the theorized pathway regarding campaign promises: not whether promises are kept, but what purpose promises serve, what they signal, and how they affect voter decision-making. The author explores the pathways and conditions influencing promises and finds that promises tend to have a polarizing effect on voters' opinions of politicians, attracting similarly-positioned voters and strongly repelling voters who disagree with a candidate's position. In addition, voters perceive promise breakers as less honest and less likely to follow through than candidates who more weakly took the same position. With a wealth of data and fascinating case studies, this book is full of important insights into electoral psychology and the study of promises, campaigning, and representation.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • President Joe Biden, the author of Promise Me, Dad, tells the story of his extraordinary life and career prior to his emergence as Barack Obama’s beloved, influential vice president. “I remain captivated by the possibilities of politics and public service. In fact, I believe that my chosen profession is a noble calling.”—Joe Biden Joe Biden has both witnessed and participated in a momentous epoch of American history. In Promises to Keep, Joe Biden reveals what these experiences taught him about himself, his colleagues, and the institutions of government. With his customary candor and wit, Biden movingly recounts growing up in a staunchly Catholic multigenerational household in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington, Delaware; overcoming personal tragedy, life-threatening illness, and career setbacks; his relationships with presidents, with world leaders, and with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle; and his leadership of powerful Senate committees. Through these and other recollections, Biden shows us how the guiding principles he learned early in life—to work to make people’s lives better; to honor family and faith; to value persistence, candor, and honesty—are the foundation on which he has based his life’s work as husband, father, and public servant. Promises to Keep is an intimate series of reflections from a public servant who surmounted numerous challenges to become one of our most effective leaders and who refuses to be cynical about politics. It is also a stirring testament to the promise of the United States. Praise for Promises to Keep “A ripping good read . . . Biden is a master storyteller and has stories worth telling.”—The Christian Science Monitor “A compelling personal story.”—The New York Times “Moving . . . [Biden’s] response to tragedy and near death [is] both admirable and likable.”—Salon
When a tragedy shocks her school, Fairholm High principal Suzanna Quinn is determined to develop better communication between the students and teachers. But there's no reason for a crisis counselor to be hired by the district. Secret Service Agent Joe Stonehouse knows he can never tell Suzanna his real reason for being at the school. But he also can't deny his feelings for her. (August)
Meet Harry Adkins, a self-declared "cockeyed optimist." Adkins believes he can beat any odds. Overweight, heavy drinking, a philandering international businessman in his forties with a long suffering wife when the story opens, he might have come to the end of that road of optimism. Friend and physician, Dr. Alex Quick-Campbell, offers an escape route. He signs up for the Healthy Hearts Live Longer study. Following a year of training and monitoring, H2 L2 predicts the precise day of the patient's death. A threat lurks in the background. Convicted murderer, Johnnie Allegro, has vowed to avenge his death penalty sentence by going after Adkins, the jury foreman. On the day a slimmer and healthier Adkins receives the predicted date of his death, Adkins decides to finish cleaning up his life. He sends a fax to Naomi, his Japanese business partner: their long-standing affair is over. Flash forward ten years. Today is the predicted day of Adkins' death. He has misremembered the day by one, however, and wakes up feeling victorious, his cockeyed optimism vindicated. He's alive! Healthy! Rich! Life is good! But Allegro has escaped from jail. There's a surprise in store. It's well worth the anticipation. There's a full meal of life in this witty novel. In the end, we root for cockeyed optimism to prevail: we want to wish Adkins a long and happy life. Scott Driscoll, M.F.A., award winning Seattle Freelance writer
