Recent Reads

Recently we read "Regulating the Poor: The Functions of Public Welfare" by Francis Fox Piven and Richard Cloward. This book provoked a lot of conversation and debate.. perhaps our best yet. Questions of who and when people or groups (organizations, corporations) should get assistance was vigorously debated by the group. Some men thought that the risk of abuse of the public service was too rampant and had to be curtailed. Others argued that even though the potential for abuse was there, safety nets had to be in place to help those who needed it. Sean, one reading group participant thought that the book was really well argued and gave a great history on public assistance. This book, he stated, was his favorite thus far.

Next, we'll read Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow", which has been requested by a few men in the group.