Worlds Apart: Poverty and Politics in Rural America

by Cynthia M. Duncan

First published in 1999, Worlds Apart examined the nature of poverty through the stories of real people in three remote rural areas of the United States: New England, Appalachia, and the Mississippi Delta. In this new edition, Duncan returns to her original research, interviewing some of the same people as well as some new key informants. Duncan provides powerful new insights into the dynamics of poverty, politics, and community change.

"What stories Mil Duncan has to tell! In this new edition of her classic Worlds Apart , she offers sage advice about how to begin to reverse the dangerously growing divide between rich and poor in our country."—Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis

"A mosaic of intimate portraits revealing the social, economic, and political isolation of rural poverty, Worlds Apart is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of inequality in America."—Darren Walker, president, Ford Foundation

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Sociology, Poverty, Academic, American, Government

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 1999

Reviews

[Marjorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Meredith Scalos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really well done ethnographic study of three areas in the United States to explore the nature of poverty - specifically rural poverty - in these areas. Duncan combines first-hand accounts and stories with innovative and rigorous academic research to produce a phenomenal and exceptionally readable study. If you can get through the book without feeling something should be done, you didn't read it closely enough.

[J.C. Greene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative look into the lives of rural America. I had to read this for my rural library course but I found that it gave me a great perspective in what power politics and division is in some of these places and how it deals with the people. This book brings about possible solutions for someone is in these locations or anyone who is looking to help these communities.

[Hannah Bedenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a rural families and communities class and learned so much about the realities of our country and the actual stories of people who struggle in these seemingly unimportant places. Shed so much light on the state on inequality and inequity ingrained in America.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this book was published 25 years ago in 1999, I believe the stories of the communities of Blackwell (coal town in Appalachia) and Dahlia (farms aka plantations in the Mississippi Delta) and Gray Mountain (paper mill town in New England) continue to illustrate why poverty persists in rural America and what we as citizens can do to help the poor to overcome the social culture and social structure that has perpetuated the cycle of poverty. Investment in your community is very important. Volunteer. Donate time and resources to civic projects. Mentor someone. Help someone to figure out that first next step. Instead of making fun of or disregarding someone with less than yourself, act to help them. Make them aware of food pantries or clothing giveaways. Give a poor kid a ride home from sports practice. Buy their lunch at an away game. Become invested and involved. The most important thing anyone can do is to be an advocate for good education. A good education for all children and adults should be looked upon as a right of citizenship in this country and is the key to taking steps out of poverty. Education expands one’s ability to increase knowledge and skills. It unlocks possibility. People who are educated are rarely poor.

[Sophia Wagle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Introduction to Understanding Rural Poverty

This book was an easy going and informative read! As someone who doesn’t have much formalized education in sociological issues I found this book extremely eye-opening and informative. The quotes were well placed and the analysis of each location was both in-depth and understandable. I would likely recommend this for anyone wanting to broaden their understanding of sociological issues.

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rare look into intergenerational poverty and class issues in rural America, through the comparison of three communities over time. Federal investment and local policies have the ability to produce quite different results.

[Chrystine Collins-blums · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is an interesting premise, examining three communities and revisiting them 20 years later. I would have liked to see more references to support the statements of fact made about the regions.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absorbing and shocking. Highly recommended for anyone interested in anthropology or welfare policy.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fascinated by this book and its subject matter. Very well researched which I appreciate.

[Nikki Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable.