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A book such as this should be read slowly, over months or years, or a decade even. Joseph Mitchell was the quintessential raconteur. He took delight in giving voice to New York's over-looked, under-valued, and largely forgotten classes. It's impossible to decipher truth from half-truth from fabrication and that is what makes the stories so wonderful. Perception becomes the reader's reality.

Reading this book is like taking a course in American History (≈1880-1920) with the lecture portion of the class being part of the literature. Dr Painter's detailed analysis and contextual clues provide the reader with a much deeper understanding of the broader historical picture. She provides not only the elements of political and business history but also the common wo/man's role in the shaping of our nation.

The "identity projects" that act as inspiration for so many students are a big piece of what's missing in so many young people's lives. Purpose, passion, place; together, projects that focus on these three ideas can increase graduation rates in our public schools.