Social Inequality: Forms, Causes, and Consequences, Fifth Edition

Rating:
Summary: 2003 Inequality in the USA is an outrage
Review: I think most U.S. citizens don't realize just how extensive inequality is in the world and in the U.S. Hurst does an amazing job of explaining this differential. In chapter eight he quotes the United Nations Human Development Report on worldwide inequality: "In 1997 it was estimated that the total wealth of the richest 225 people in the world was over $1 trillion, which equaled the combined income of the poorest 47 percent [of the world] (2.5 billion people)" (page 161).

He provides stunning at-home statistics as well. All well documented. All seemingly credible (U.S. Bureau of the Census).

He breaks social inequality along many dimensions, explains the general explanations for such inequality, shows the consequences of it, and explains how some have dealt with these perceived injustices in the past.

I think Charles Hurst's text stands as the backbone of any program that would truly work to change the status quo of the injustices of tremendous inequalities of all kinds.

Outrage was my reaction to the extensive detail this text brings to life. Be warned, if you open this book you won't like the picture of our world that it paints.