Things I've Learned From The Homeless

by Glen Dunzweiler

Glen Dunzweiler is a filmmaker, producer, writer and public speaker. He started his work with homelessness in 2010 when making his documentary ‘yHomeless?’. After years of seeing the public bang their heads up against the same homeless issues, he was driven to write this primer. ‘Things I’ve Learned From The Homeless’ looks to explain the world that housed individuals are often frustrated by. The goal is to flip viewpoints on homelessness, to create new dialogues, and to inspire action. Glen Dunzweiler invites you to get into it with him, so we can all start to figure this out. Do the Anger you? Frustrate you? Scare you? Sadden you? Confuse you? Make you want to DO something? Read this book.

Genres: Nonfiction

88 pages, Paperback

Published August 10, 2018

Reviews

[Blair Hodgkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, informative and touching. It's a short read, but worth it.

[Cyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, thoughtful collection of musings based on conversations with homeless people.

[Goth Gone Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned being homeless sucks...

...which I probably didn't need this book to teach me. Not a lot of surprises contained within, or deep meaningful life lessons.

The style is primarily factual, with some homeless people's life stories mixed in, and information the author learned living in his car for the month. It often reads like an ad for his documentary about homelessness. Despite trying to be fair and treat everyone with respect, it feels that goal is not always achieved in his tone.

An example of the writing:

"Panhandlers aren’t necessarily homeless, but they are business people. Their signs aren’t necessarily true, but they are telling a story. Think of them as street theater. They are buskers and salesmen. They need your money, and their sign is a request for a transaction. It’s a contract on the back of capitalism. For cash, you get to feel you helped somebody. Some deals include entertainment. For cash, their sign makes you laugh. For cash, you get to pet their dog. For cash, you get to give back to a vet. Thank you for your service. Here’s a dollar. You as the customer get to decide if you want take part in that deal."

[Edward L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me understand the Homeless a lot better. Dunzweiler bases his insights from living among the Homeless and with first person interviews. It helped me understand how difficult it is for cities to deal with the burgeoning homeless residents in our urban society today.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good...makes you really think about your own perceptions and misconceptions of homelessness.

[Beth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dunzweiler invites us to make eye contact with the pain of the homeless. A short, insightful wake-up call to all who are housed, inviting us to become part of the solution.

[Lilith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding. Should be required reading for every short sighted dope who thinks homelessness can't happen to them.