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Promises Betrayed: Waking Up from the American Dream
The award-winning New York Times op-ed columnist probes the widening gap between
American ideals and American realities, and urges us to do something about it
Bob Herbert is the conscience of the op-ed page of The New York Times , and his work is characterized by a strong moral vision and a deep understanding of the human costs of political decisions. From partisan politics to popular culture, from race relations to criminal justice, few journalists bring to life so movingly the stories of ordinary people caught between the American dream and American realities. Whether it is the inherent injustice of the death penalty or the demagoguery of the war on terrorism, Herbert questions whether we are truly upholding our ideals or merely giving them lip service.
In Promises Betrayed , Herbert makes the case that in recent years America has too often failed to live up to its creed of fairness and justice in the lives of working people, racial minorities, children, and others not among the powerful. He introduces us to real people facing real problems and trying to maintain their dignity along the way, and he blows the whistle on imperious public officials who think the rules of common decency do not apply to them. Herbert's tenacious reporting has resulted in the overturning of many wrongful convictions and the release of dozens of innocent people from prison. In these and so many other ways, Herbert keeps us all honest and lives up to the journalist's to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
American ideals and American realities, and urges us to do something about it
Bob Herbert is the conscience of the op-ed page of The New York Times , and his work is characterized by a strong moral vision and a deep understanding of the human costs of political decisions. From partisan politics to popular culture, from race relations to criminal justice, few journalists bring to life so movingly the stories of ordinary people caught between the American dream and American realities. Whether it is the inherent injustice of the death penalty or the demagoguery of the war on terrorism, Herbert questions whether we are truly upholding our ideals or merely giving them lip service.
In Promises Betrayed , Herbert makes the case that in recent years America has too often failed to live up to its creed of fairness and justice in the lives of working people, racial minorities, children, and others not among the powerful. He introduces us to real people facing real problems and trying to maintain their dignity along the way, and he blows the whistle on imperious public officials who think the rules of common decency do not apply to them. Herbert's tenacious reporting has resulted in the overturning of many wrongful convictions and the release of dozens of innocent people from prison. In these and so many other ways, Herbert keeps us all honest and lives up to the journalist's to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.
- GenresNonfiction
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 8, 2017
it will break your heart. herbert is one of the greats. he should run his own paper.
July 5, 2009
Collection of Herbert's articles in the New York Times. One of the most compelling was of the disgraceful racism of the justice system in Tulia, Texas.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews