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The Road to Whatever: Middle-Class Culture and the Crisis of Adolescence
An "energetic," "provocative," and "much-needed" investigation of the root causes of the epidemic of drug abuse, violence, and despair among middle-class American teenagers ( Los Angeles Times )
In this groundbreaking book, acclaimed sociologist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elliott Currie draws on years of interviews to offer a profound investigation of what has gone wrong for so many "mainstream" American adolescents. Rejecting such predictable answers as TV violence, permissiveness, and inherent evil, Currie links this crisis to a pervasive "culture of exclusion" fostered by a society in which medications trump guidance and a punitive "zero tolerance" approach to adolescent misbehavior has become the norm. Broadening his inquiry, he dissects the changes in middle-class life that stratify the world into "winners" and "losers," imposing an extraordinarily harsh culture―and not just on kids.
Vivid, compelling, and deeply empathetic, The Road to Whatever is a stark indictment of a society that has lost the will―or the capacity―to care.
In this groundbreaking book, acclaimed sociologist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Elliott Currie draws on years of interviews to offer a profound investigation of what has gone wrong for so many "mainstream" American adolescents. Rejecting such predictable answers as TV violence, permissiveness, and inherent evil, Currie links this crisis to a pervasive "culture of exclusion" fostered by a society in which medications trump guidance and a punitive "zero tolerance" approach to adolescent misbehavior has become the norm. Broadening his inquiry, he dissects the changes in middle-class life that stratify the world into "winners" and "losers," imposing an extraordinarily harsh culture―and not just on kids.
Vivid, compelling, and deeply empathetic, The Road to Whatever is a stark indictment of a society that has lost the will―or the capacity―to care.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2005
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98 people want to read
About the author
Elliott Currie
19 books19 followersDr. Elliott Currie is Professor of Criminology, Law, and Society at the University of California, Irvine. A leading expert on crime, social inequality, and criminal justice policy, he has written extensively on juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, and violence in American society. His acclaimed book Crime and Punishment in America was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction, while Whitewashing Race: The Myth of a Colorblind America was a finalist for the C. Wright Mills Award and winner of the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute Book Award. He has served as a consultant for numerous organizations in the United States and abroad on issues of crime prevention, justice reform, and civil rights.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 19, 2018
In The Road to Whatever: Middle-Class Culture and the Crisis of Adolescence, Elliot Currie diagnoses a growing crisis of youth in the American mainstream. Statistically and anecdotally, it seems that alienation, desperation, and violence have slowly crept into the one demographic that has always appeared safe. Currie argues that zero-tolerance policies, pressure to succeed, and lack of social services has exacerbated this crisis. In the decade since publication, however, the U.S. has seen a marked decrease in teen pregnancy, drug use (including alcohol and tobacco), and violence.
Anecdotal evidence is not enough to indicate a trend, let alone a crisis, but according to Currie, white youth are at measurably high levels of risk for suicide, traffic accidents, drug abuse, and binge drinking compared to youth in other racial and ethnic categories. “It is increasingly clear that being middle class and white does not provide reliable protection against even the worst perils of adolescence,” he argues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, homicide rates among African-American males 10-24 years of age far exceed those of white males in the same age group (51.5 vs 2.9 per 100,000 in 2010).
Currie argues that denial, incomprehension, or demonization has characterized our response to this crisis. As evidenced by the media’s handling of the Columbine shootings, at-risk suburban youth are portrayed as “other-than”—somehow fundamentally different and separate from their peers. Parents, politicians, and pundits often blame factors like the erosion of discipline, growing leniency and indulgence, and weakened authority of parents and schools for this violence.
That blame is misplaced, according to Currie, because rather than being more lenient, schools and courts have become much harsher and less forgiving of youthful indiscretions. Zero-tolerance policies have criminalized even acts as simple as carrying Advil in school. Instead, he argues that a “sink or swim” attitude toward youth, and a lack of “reliable social supports” such as family allowances, universal healthcare, and paid parental leaves from work, are to blame.
Currie’s conclusion fails to hold up under scrutiny. If lack of a government support system is to blame, for instance, why would these problems be more prevalent today than in the past, when there were fewer social services? Furthermore, why is this crisis afflicting white middle class youth, who have typically been in less need of those services than other demographics? Also, The Road to Whatever lacks an explanation for high profile acts of school violence in other industrialized nations, such as Germany and Finland, that possess such public support services.
Sociologists like Elliot Currie tend to exaggerate social problems in order to influence the public to adopt their reforms. As mentioned earlier, teen pregnancy rates and drug use among all demographics are on the decline (teen pregnancy in the U.S. is at historic lows). Dewey Cornell, a clinical psychologist and education professor at the University of Virginia, told NPR that despite high profile acts of school violence, school is actually the safest place for students to be. “I know on the heels of any school shooting, there’s the perception that violence is on the rise. It’s not. In fact, there’s been a very steady downward trend for the past 15 years,” he said.
It comes as no surprise that Francis Fox Piven, coauthor of the Cloward-Piven strategy, would give this book a ringing endorsement on the back cover. Piven, a socialist and New Left activist of the 1960s, advocated overloading the U.S. welfare system in order to precipitate a crises leading to a guaranteed annual income. It’s clear that politics, rather than hard data, influenced Elliot Currie’s conclusions. This is unfortunate, because his ideological blinders weaken what could have otherwise been an interesting look at white, middle class youth in crisis.
Anecdotal evidence is not enough to indicate a trend, let alone a crisis, but according to Currie, white youth are at measurably high levels of risk for suicide, traffic accidents, drug abuse, and binge drinking compared to youth in other racial and ethnic categories. “It is increasingly clear that being middle class and white does not provide reliable protection against even the worst perils of adolescence,” he argues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), however, homicide rates among African-American males 10-24 years of age far exceed those of white males in the same age group (51.5 vs 2.9 per 100,000 in 2010).
Currie argues that denial, incomprehension, or demonization has characterized our response to this crisis. As evidenced by the media’s handling of the Columbine shootings, at-risk suburban youth are portrayed as “other-than”—somehow fundamentally different and separate from their peers. Parents, politicians, and pundits often blame factors like the erosion of discipline, growing leniency and indulgence, and weakened authority of parents and schools for this violence.
That blame is misplaced, according to Currie, because rather than being more lenient, schools and courts have become much harsher and less forgiving of youthful indiscretions. Zero-tolerance policies have criminalized even acts as simple as carrying Advil in school. Instead, he argues that a “sink or swim” attitude toward youth, and a lack of “reliable social supports” such as family allowances, universal healthcare, and paid parental leaves from work, are to blame.
Currie’s conclusion fails to hold up under scrutiny. If lack of a government support system is to blame, for instance, why would these problems be more prevalent today than in the past, when there were fewer social services? Furthermore, why is this crisis afflicting white middle class youth, who have typically been in less need of those services than other demographics? Also, The Road to Whatever lacks an explanation for high profile acts of school violence in other industrialized nations, such as Germany and Finland, that possess such public support services.
Sociologists like Elliot Currie tend to exaggerate social problems in order to influence the public to adopt their reforms. As mentioned earlier, teen pregnancy rates and drug use among all demographics are on the decline (teen pregnancy in the U.S. is at historic lows). Dewey Cornell, a clinical psychologist and education professor at the University of Virginia, told NPR that despite high profile acts of school violence, school is actually the safest place for students to be. “I know on the heels of any school shooting, there’s the perception that violence is on the rise. It’s not. In fact, there’s been a very steady downward trend for the past 15 years,” he said.
It comes as no surprise that Francis Fox Piven, coauthor of the Cloward-Piven strategy, would give this book a ringing endorsement on the back cover. Piven, a socialist and New Left activist of the 1960s, advocated overloading the U.S. welfare system in order to precipitate a crises leading to a guaranteed annual income. It’s clear that politics, rather than hard data, influenced Elliot Currie’s conclusions. This is unfortunate, because his ideological blinders weaken what could have otherwise been an interesting look at white, middle class youth in crisis.
July 28, 2025
Interesting, but often unpersuasive. It's easy to accept that an overstressing of individual responsibility places too much blame on kids, but it's also hard to imagine how to shift the blame to social ills without reaching a state of indifference to personal choice - is that where we've come to? Another swing of the pendulum?
There are a few critiques of this which are work reading - Mike Males' 2007 piece in the Western Criminology Review, for instance. These argue that the book largely reflects a nostalgic view of 1950s culture, though some of that review's approach is questionable. Males argues that, statistically, youth are less impacted than they were in decades past. Fine, but does that answer the question of HOW it is that youth are impacted in the time of Currie's writing? If there is a decline in "delinquency", does that reflect changing standards of reporting? Is the new delinquent the same as the old?
There's a lot to unpack - too much for this space. In any case, it's more interesting now as a historical artifact than as social commentary.
There are a few critiques of this which are work reading - Mike Males' 2007 piece in the Western Criminology Review, for instance. These argue that the book largely reflects a nostalgic view of 1950s culture, though some of that review's approach is questionable. Males argues that, statistically, youth are less impacted than they were in decades past. Fine, but does that answer the question of HOW it is that youth are impacted in the time of Currie's writing? If there is a decline in "delinquency", does that reflect changing standards of reporting? Is the new delinquent the same as the old?
There's a lot to unpack - too much for this space. In any case, it's more interesting now as a historical artifact than as social commentary.
February 20, 2025
Elliot Currie’s book is very well needed in the literature surrounding the Troubled Teen Industry. While the author over exaggerated sometimes and is hard on parents, he explains why teens do the things they do. The road to “whatever,” is simply the series of events that prevent teens from developing a solid sense of self. Because of this, once they are labeled as “delinquent” or “bad” there’s nothing stopping them from owning that title in a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. Understanding what drives upper class teens to act out is integral in preventing TBSs from swooping in as a false solution. Overall, a solid read!
March 14, 2026
Sad, but a good reflection complication. I like the author’s patience to listen & connect, and invite the interviewees and readers to draw near and reflect.
March 21, 2008
I had to read this book for a class I am taking and it was very interesting. It's a different perspective on why so many middle class white adolescents are turning to substance abuse, promiscuity, crime, and other deviant behaviors. Currie, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for "Crime and Punishment in America" made some very good points. I don't agree with everything he said, but there are other areas where I think he "hits the nail on the head."
There is some language that some might find offensive; but he is directly quoting youth he has interviewed personally over a period of several years. These are kids who have lived in crack houses and on the streets after being tossed out by their parents at ages 14 and up. These are middle-class youth who supposedly had all the advantages to excel in life but derailed into a world most of us would like to believe will never touch us or those we love.
If you work with youth or are raising children, I would recommend that you read this. It's an eye opener.
There is some language that some might find offensive; but he is directly quoting youth he has interviewed personally over a period of several years. These are kids who have lived in crack houses and on the streets after being tossed out by their parents at ages 14 and up. These are middle-class youth who supposedly had all the advantages to excel in life but derailed into a world most of us would like to believe will never touch us or those we love.
If you work with youth or are raising children, I would recommend that you read this. It's an eye opener.
December 8, 2009
Despite being repetitive and overly dramatic at times, this contains powerful insight into the lives of teens in middle-America. Currie's interviews provide a highlight to otherwise conceptual learning. Good read.
May 5, 2008
I'm curious to read what the author has to say about how we went from a sense of obligation to a sense of entitlement in our culture's youth.
April 8, 2009
Frightening.
January 1, 2010
Read this for class. While I don't agree with everything he says, particularly some of his suggestions to fix the problems of middle-class teens, it was a very interesting book.
August 26, 2016
Middle-class American culture doesn't suit everyone, and those who can't conform often slip through the cracks.
July 4, 2014
The author missed one important fact when dealing with addiction. The person has to want to change their behaviors/lifestyle.
July 12, 2009
Another on the Teachers as Readers list
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November 21, 2009None
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews