Life at the Bottom

Name: Life at the Bottom
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SKU: 9781566635059
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The Worldview That Makes the Underclass

By Theodore Dalrymple

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4.23

( 4,103 ratings, 501 reviews)

Summary

Life at the Bottom offers a revealing account of life in the underclass in England, seen through the eyes of a British psychiatrist working in slum hospitals and prisons. Theodore Dalrymple argues that long-term poverty stems not from economic factors but from a dysfunctional set of values perpetuated by both the underclass and an elite culture seeking victims. The book combines eye-opening vignettes that range from humorous to horrifying, providing a deeply candid and insightful social analysis.
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Format: Paperback / softback

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Life at the Bottom

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Essential reading for those interested in sociology, social policy, and psychology, as well as professionals working in education, healthcare, and criminal justice. It appeals to readers seeking an unvarnished, thought-provoking exploration of poverty and society's role in its persistence.

A searing account of life in the underclass and why it persists as it does, written by a British psychiatrist.

Description

This work is an account of life in the underclass and why it persists as it does, written by a British psychiatrist who treats the poor in a slum hospital and a prison in England.

Its insight is that long-term poverty is caused not by economics but by a dysfunctional set of values, one that is continually reinforced by an elite culture searching for victims.

Life at the Bottom draws upon eye-opening, true-life vignettes that are by turns hilariously funny, chillingly horrifying, and all too revealing—sometimes all at once.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Highly praised for its moral courage and intellectual rigour, Life at the Bottom features vivid, often heartbreaking stories that enhance its social critique. Norman Podhoretz calls it truthful and courageous, while Hilton Kramer considers it brilliant social analysis. Denis Dutton describes Dalrymple as a profoundly honest essayist, and Thomas Sowell refers to the work as a classic for our times. The book's impact is further endorsed by George F. Will, Peggy Noonan, and major publications like Publishers Weekly and the New York Sun.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781566635059

Publisher: Ivan R Dee, Inc

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 March 2003

Country: United States

Imprint: Ivan R Dee, Inc

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 19.0mm

Width: 148.0mm

Height: 226.0mm

Weight: 372g

Pages: 284

Collections

Education & Reference Non-Fiction Theodore Dalrymple

About the Author

Theodore Dalrymple is a physician and psychiatrist who practices in England. He writes a column for the London Spectator, contributes frequently to the Daily Telegraph, and is a contributing editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal. His other books include Our Culture, What's Left of It, Mass Listeria, and So Little Done. He lives in Birmingham, England.

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Life at the Bottom

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