Welcome to Litsy!

It‘s hard to discuss poverty in America without devolving to partisan politics, but this books does a compassionate job in its effort by portraying stories from the author‘s hometown and across America. So much American poverty is so unnecessary, we give too much power to big business and fail to respect, protect, educate our finest natural resource - our people, including those in poverty.

Listened to this book during the past week. I liked the stories of Yamhill people & information about different programs that are working to reduce addiction & poverty. Overall, the book just wasn‘t that informative for me. I‘ve worked in low-income areas, heard many stories like the families in the book, & read other books about the subject. For people who aren‘t as familiar with this topic, I would recommend it.

I love these authors. The subject matter is painful, infuriating, depressing… I‘m legitimately in such a bad place with respect to hope for my country that I had a hard time finding hope here, but that‘s not the fault of the book.

An honest, eyes-wide-open look at poverty in America.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved the book so much. I instantly thought that this is it, this is the book im gonna enjoy so much when i found the book. The wants for better America and needs for early education and social/ community support is well written by both authors. They are strong and clear based on their intense and deep understanding of the community and research. This is the “Must read”! #finished #tightrope #kristof #america

A crushing look at poverty in America and the balancing act children have to perform in order to be successful if they are born into a lower income family. Most don‘t make it across the tightrope.

This was written with more true stories than statistics, although it does also have enough hard facts, making it easy to digest.

@TheBookHippie I‘m pretty sure I heard about this from you, so thank you! Great read!

Truthfully I only heard about this book because I follow Jennifer Garner on IG and someone congratulated her on her excellent job reading the audio. I love Jennifer Garner so I checked this out through Libby. Holy Crap! This book has made me cry angry frustrated tears and I‘m Canadian. It‘s an excellent follow up to Caste/ Educated / Hillbilly Elegy. It ends with an appendix of 10 things to do to bring change.

Doodling some drawing ideas to use in art class in March and listening to this heartbreaking book. So much work to be done 😢😢😢

Read by Jennifer Garner

In this illuminating book, Kristof returns to his hometown, rural Yamhill, Oregon, to explore the pitfalls of poverty, addiction and despair that have ravaged the lives of his childhood friends. These personal stories reflect alarming national trends and highlight the human toll of America's statistical decline relative to other developed countries. Kristof and his wife and fellow author Sheryl WuDunn, conclude with ideas and a modicum of hope.

Sobering yet hopeful, Tightrope discusses living in poverty in the US and how disastrous policy over the last 50 years has largely prevented people from climbing upward. While I do wish it had included a tiny bit more data to be more persuasive to policymakers and skeptics, the personal stories are affecting and will appeal to many readers. I like that this writing team doesn‘t just reveal a problem but offers solutions with examples.

Excellent, eye-opening #nonfiction on the state of America and the uphill battles faced by disadvantaged citizens. I found many chapters illuminating and realized we must do better as a country. Addiction, lack of healthcare, few jobs, + other factors all contribute to increased poverty and poor quality of life. Other topics: lack of resources for children, and prioritizing funds for prisons over intervention programs for crime. ⬇️

This book! ???? Stressing me out, but so good and eye opening!
Reading in my boys' newly-installed platform swing. It's basically a reading hammock, right? Really enjoying this first "unofficial" day of summer, Memorial Day in the US ?? ?

I think it is important to understand the problems america has and are becoming more apparent amidst the pandemic. Not an uplifting read, but helps with empathy and understanding other people.

Reading at the (abandoned) lake. 🥰

Examine the growing problem of American poverty in the U S, author Nicholas Kristof looks at the largely ignored population living in impoverished rural areas and how very little we've made in progression post World War 2. With each admimistration, the middle and working class levels keep deterioration leading to a larger number on the lower socioeconomic status and more reliance on welfare programs and government assistance.

If you appreciated the information in Dopesick, Tightrope will do even more for you. With amazing writing and research by Pulitzer Prize winning authors, this book looks at the breakdown of social structure and support in the US. I highly recommend for anyone who wants to really make America great, not just preach it through cutting programs and funding that do the exact opposite.

Sophie is glad it‘s Friday and hoping her humans can spend some time reading (and petting)! Current read is tagged- I‘m not far in, but find it really engaging so far.

Catching up on my #BOTM reading on vacation. So far so good.

This book was so powerful. It focused on poverty in America and the reasons for it and the ways we can ease it. I really encourage everyone to read this one. It‘s so important. Written with so much empathy and compassion.

Much of the reporting in this book has been done before. It is not a revelation that early childhood intervention, drug diversion programs, job/financial literacy training, and after school programs help kids, families, and adults.

However, until we make fundamental, bipartisan structural change to make these and other programs available to all Americans, we need to keep this in the public eye.

A well written, if a bit imperfect book. 4⭐️ #BOTM

“It‘s puzzling that many politicians fear that poor people are trying to milk the system, while they don‘t seem to fear rich people doing the same with more dollars at stake.”

It‘s puzzling to me, too!! 🤯🤯🤯

Sorry @Cinfhen @Reviewsbylola @BarbaraTheBibliophage ⬆️☹️

Honestly, I‘m a bit frustrated because the first 60 pages are turning out to be another book about the plight of rural white dudes. And they ASSUME (😒) it‘s the same for blacks, Latinx, and natives(!!) then they talked about how great the Homestead Act was for getting housing. Yes, for WHITES. Wasn‘t so great for natives!! 🤯

I‘m not sure how I feel if this is more whiny white people.

Looking forward to listening to Jennifer Garner read this to me!

I‘m finally a member of the #BOTM club! Had been thinking of joining for a long time but the referral code @Hollie gave me convinced me to give the club a try! This was my pick.

As a newbie, any tips are appreciated 🤗!

My #BOTM just arrived! Bookmail makes my heart happy! ♥️

#BOTM in the house!

10 Books NYT says to watch for in January..... 3 stacked already! Happy New Years Eve!

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/23/books/january-2020-books.html?te=1&nl=books&e...

Oh boy ... too many good choices this month! I‘m a huge Nicholas Kristof fan, so this was a no-brainer. St. James last book was yummy and this one looks creeptastic! And I‘m a sucker for gory gothic, Victorian mystery. #botm #iregretnothing

I went for the nonfiction and my free BFF #BOTY contender 💕I am super curious about Topics of Conversation though. Im trying to only use one #BOTM credit a month so we‘ll see how long that lasts.