Nice Is Not Enough: Inequality and the Limits of Kindness at American High

by C.J. Pascoe

This provocative story of contemporary high school argues that a shallow culture of kindness can do more lasting harm than good.
 
Based on two years of research, Nice Is Not Enough shares striking dispatches from one high school's "regime of kindness" to underline how the culture operates as a Band-Aid on persistent inequalities. Through incisive storytelling and thoughtful engagement with students, this brilliant study by C.J. Pascoe exposes uncomfortable truths about American politics and our reliance on individual solutions instead of profound systemic change.
 
Nice Is Not Enough brings readers into American High, a middle- and working-class high school characterized by acceptance, connection, and kindness—a place where, a prominent sign states, "there is no room for hate." Here, inequality is narrowly understood as a problem of individual merit, meanness, effort, or emotion rather than a structural issue requiring deeper intervention. Surface-level sensitivity allows American High to avoid "political" topics related to social inequality based on race, sex, gender, or class. Being nice to each other, Pascoe reveals, does not serve these students or solve the broader issues we face; however, a true politics of care just might.

Genres: Sociology, Nonfiction

264 pages, Hardcover

Published August 15, 2023

Reviews

[Nikita Kakkad · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As cultural commentator bell hooks writes, to combat social inequality we need to see "love as an action rather than a feeling" in a way that involves "accountability and responsibil-ity." By embracing and not avoiding "the political," a group of dedicated adults at American demonstrates love as an action by creating spaces and opportunities to empower young folks to call attention to the systemic nature of racial inequality, spaces and opportunities that can serve a template for an emerging politics of care.”

ugh this book was so good. I want to be a sociologist now

[Grace Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very repetitive and a little bit dense, but overall a good and accessible read that made me understand more about my high school and college experience and how it doesn’t have to be this way.

[Liz Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and timely ethnography of a progressive high school in Oregon that is recognizable in its culture and traditions. Very accessible and readable scholarship about the tensions of teaching and learning in todays fractured political climate. Can’t wait to read it with my teacher candidates this fall!

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Nice Is Not Enough brings readers into American High, a middle- and working-class high school characterized by acceptance, connection, and kindness—a place where, a prominent sign states, "there is no room for hate." Here, inequality is narrowly understood as a problem of individual merit, meanness, effort, or emotion rather than a structural issue requiring deeper intervention. Surface-level sensitivity allows American High to avoid "political" topics related to social inequality based on race, sex, gender, or class. Being nice to each other, Pascoe reveals, does not serve these students or solve the broader issues we face; however, a true politics of care just might."

NEW FAVORITE BOOK. I genuinely think everyone should read this. Especially anyone involved in teaching or school administration in the U.S.!!! Please please please please please. Such an important and incredibly thoughtful and well-researched case study that serves as the perfect microcosm for schools (and other attitudes, beliefs, structures, etc.) across the country!! I have a lot of personal feelings about this stuff and it felt like it put words and understanding to a lot of my own experiences and those of people I know and it was really cathartic and frustrating and healing and sad and wonderful and enraging and hopeful. I think I have yet to read a book that made me feel hopeful but this genuinely was. I really didn't think it would be because I genuinely had to take so many breaks in the beginning because all of it just made me upset and learning and changing with the structures and resources we have now is so so hard and there are underappreciated people who work exhaustedly to do that but seeing the way all so many students and teachers went out of their way to practice a politics of care and show up and listen and genuinely support each other made me so emotional. I'm in awe. And the way Pascoe describes and acknowledged all the ways that young people make sense of all these things was so real you could tell she genuinely was taking them seriously (as one should!!) but that in itself was just so utterly shocking to me (which sucks btw!!!! It's not supposed to feel like that!!). Also in awe of that. I definitely will read her other books. Also side note, Pascoe really got lucky with this school! I know she didn't originally intend to study this but all of the events/rituals she describes are such perfect microcosms of the issue itself presented in a range of different ways across different issues. Augh. I really don't know how else I can emphasize this but it's so so so good. I need everyone to read it.

[Elhana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I think this is the first time I’ve read an ethnography where all the academic terms are easily understood in context. It helps me see and reflect more on the distinction between individual care vs systemic care, as well as individual vs systemic harm. I also appreciate how Pascoe offers positive examples from American High - and other schools when the examples are lacking. Glad that we were forced to read this for one of the classes.

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever have that niggling feeling you get when you think your school is doing all the right things, but things still go wrong? It could be racial disparity or sexual harassment or trans phobia. Pascoe exposes what's going beneath the surface. An ah ha moment for educators.

Full disclosure - I was at the school she studied. I was there in the story. Reading it, I actually blurted out "No way!" She showed me sides of my school I knew existed.

[Miguel Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pascoe criticizes the limits of neoliberal multiculturalism through an ethnography of a "progressive" school in Oregon. She is optimistic that reform can shift a regime of kindness into a politics of care, placing public school education into a larger conversation on the logics that neoliberal society operates in.

[Caroline Laverick · Rating 3 out of 5]

good topic, good point, strong argument and engaging characters. reminded me of my own high school in the ignorance towards oppression. some examples weren’t great though and i thought sometimes she was stretching to make points but whatevs still good

[Serenity Lozano-Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Really encapsulates the American experience and breaks down what is so obviously in front of us all but for which we did not have words to express. Absolute slay.

[Robyn Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

[macie · Rating 4 out of 5]

read for sociology class but actually enjoyed it

[mia nydam]

read a few chapters for a soc class. fairly interesting but in no hurry to read the whole book

[Brit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe I hate sociologists

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique look into the various pervasive issues in adolescence that turn nice tiny humans into sh!t heads, and why "killing with kindness" can only get us so far - especially when it's so surface level.

At times this felt really repetitive - to the point I'd double check I hadn't rewound accidentally and was relistening to a chapter I'd already heard. Despite that, I'd still recommend this to anyone with an interest in the microcosm that is high school culture.