From Heroin to Heresy: The Making of an American Social Thinker

Rating:
Summary: Nothing really new
Review: Although I love the title the author seemed to be more of a dealer than the junky I had imagined and recieved his inspiration in an actual prison cell rather than the shackles of addiction. I give the man credit for the education he earned and the career in social service. I also appreciate his criticism of America and drug policy in particular but over and over he spoke as if he had discovered Marxism and could change the world if only someone would listen. Education as escape from poverty a point well made. This book really says quite little about heroin or heresy.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing really new
Review: Although I love the title the author seemed to be more of a dealer than the junky I had imagined and recieved his inspiration in an actual prison cell rather than the shackles of addiction. I give the man credit for the education he earned and the career in social service. I also appreciate his criticism of America and drug policy in particular but over and over he spoke as if he had discovered Marxism and could change the world if only someone would listen. Education as escape from poverty a point well made. This book really says quite little about heroin or heresy.

Rating:
Summary: ATTENTION - A timely and important new book
Review: As a concerned citizen and a lawyer involved with a variety of social problems, I highly recommend this book. In a clear and easy manner, Jim Palombo engages the reader in an interesting story while raising important and timely thoughts related to what is happening in America. Palombo provides the reader an opportunity to consider, among others, issues pertinent to our justice system, our drug policies, our social work and educational processes, and, most particularly, our systems of democracy and capitalism. I give Mr. Palombo maximum credit, not only for turning his life around, but also for finding a readable way to share ideas valuable to us all.

Rating:
Summary: Review from a Student
Review: I am a Graduate Student at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. I am currently pursuing a career in social work. I recently attended a seminar by Dr. Palombo, where he discussed his book and the issues raised within. I found the book and the seminar to be informative and thought provoking. The seminar raised many interesting points (i.e. critiquing the capatilist system from a radical perspective) that I had not been introduced to thus far in my education. Though the book contained many ideas that I had not come across, it was easy to read and understand. I recommend this book highly as both an entertaining and educational read.

Rating:
Summary: Review from a Student
Review: I am a Graduate Student at Binghamton University in Binghamton, N.Y. I am currently pursuing a career in social work. I recently attended a seminar by Dr. Palombo, where he discussed his book and the issues raised within. I found the book and the seminar to be informative and thought provoking. The seminar raised many interesting points (i.e. critiquing the capatilist system from a radical perspective) that I had not been introduced to thus far in my education. Though the book contained many ideas that I had not come across, it was easy to read and understand. I recommend this book highly as both an entertaining and educational read.

Rating:
Summary: take a look at this one
Review: I was searching for a piece about our drug policies and came across this book. I was surprised that it offered much more than I expected. The tie-in of social concerns to problems with our political economy, all via a person's personal experiences was helpful on several levels. I'm using it in my classroom, and its proving a valuable tool. I recommend reading it, talking about it, and trying to get plugged into the problems related to the nature of capitalism. I hope there is a follow-up.