I read fist stick knife gun in one day. Not because it was short, not because it has easy to read font, but because it was one of the most important books I had ever read.

Like the author, my roots were in the poor central city. Unlike the author, the central city I grew up in was Milwaukee, Wisconsin, not New York City. Besides being female, I come from a white, two-parent family, so my perspective of the inner city is very different then the author Geoffrey Canada. As I read about his neighborhood I recognized elements similar to my own from childhood, and yet his story was unlike any other I had ever read.

"fist stick knife gun" is not just one mans youth, but is a history of what made the ghettos and why they still exist. As Canada gives us his account of growing up, he also tells us what laws were put in place, and what was changing in both New York and the nation that were catalysts of the current inner city scenario. This includes the infiltration of crack and the concurrent development of gangs.

In the last quarter of the book, Canada tells us his ideas of what could be done to end violence in the inner city. Whether or not these are effective plans, they at least give us options and the beginning of a dialogue, which is not the result of most books.

I recommend this book to everyone, because lawmakers and voters alike need to understand what the problem of violence is and why it exists, and this book gives an effective and readable look.

The author shares his personal story of growing up in the inner-city. The focus is on helping people understand the culture of violence; not only in the city, but in America. Canada does a wonderful job of showing how violence and acceptance of violence is an ingrained part of our culture. I strongly recommend this highly readable book to anyone interested in America's children and their future. [...]

This book is incredibly powerful. Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun integrates real stories with tangible solutions. It is an incredible testament to the power of nonviolence in contemporary urban America. I think everyone in the country should read this book.

In my opinion this book is a model of its kind and easily the most important book in child welfare in the last ten years. These scholars, advocates, and practitioners set out a systematic framework within which to understand, develop, and implement systems and programs that will effectively engage the issues that prevent family wellness and contribute to child maltreatment. We have known for years that current reactive programming can do little to help families and children after major damage has been done, that this programming is escalating costs exponentially, and that existing fragmented systems and programs are unable to cope with the increasing complexity of problems. To actually resolve the problems of child maltreatment, the bulk of services have to be reorganized around the prevention end of the spectrum. We also know that the problems manifested in child welfare cannot be addressed solely through a focus on the family and that an ecological approach to thinking and action is essential. This book describes what it would take to actually make the transition to a prevention-focused and ecologically based system of services for families and children. It is a thorough compilation of policy-relevant knowledge on the determinants of family wellness and child maltreatment.

Policy experts within and outside government share total dependence on those who wield power, specifically politicians and ultimately citizens. In an age in which political leaders strive for ideological purity over pragmatism, it may seem that any policy advice from policy experts is entirely pointless. These authors, however, offer a practical, value and evidence-based foundation for a policy agenda within which to begin a substantive dialogue among major participants - families, politicians, professionals and government policy analysts - to address the preventable tragedy of child maltreatment. In short, the book was written for those people who are seriously searching for a means to promote family wellness and prevent child maltreatment.

At first glance, the potential buyer of this book may not be attracted to the simple book cover. That will immediately change when you pick it up and start to read it. I was hypnotized by the simplicity of the reading. This book can be read in one day and unlike many books, memorized. Geoffrey Canada does an excellent job of putting in words what some of the problems are that are plaguing America's young boys. Though his book leans heavily toward the "growing up" problems of African American boys, the lessons that he put out, apply to all American boys. Teenagers refusing to work at the soft drink table during a function (too beneath them), a young man who fights off a thug who is attempting to steal his jacket(he thought the guy was a friend of a friend), a young man who tries to kill himself, are just a couple of the real life examples in this book. This is all stuff of the real world of America's adolescents. I say this because I grew up in the neighborhood that the Rheedlen Center caters to, and reading Canada's book was like taking a step back into time. And he is so right when he says "we" have to get involved in the lives of America's boys who need support.

Reaching Up for Manhood is an excellent guide for the layperson as to the psychology behind the "cult of macho," by which so many youth are raised. Just as the author, Geoffrey Canada, points out, that today's fashions, be it sneakers or designer clothing, often originate in the inner city, so, too, has the inner city become a trend-setter in attitudes, which eventually pervade our entire culture. Consequently, this book is also important for those who are either parents of, or work with, middle class youth. Although the book is about boys, it is important reading for those concerned with girls to better understand the interaction between the sexes. The weakness of Canada's book is that it is too concerned with life in the "street" during his own adolescence, some 25 years ago. It would have been preferable to eliminate some of his own reminiscing and include more current anecdotes. On the other hand, Canada's style renders the book very intimate, as well as easily and quickly readable

The author has amazing insights which, after reading or hearing, one says, "I should have known that before. It makes such good sense." I believe this is the kind of book that has the ability and sense to change and save lives. Terry Gross featured the author on her NPR program, Fresh Air, recently

The blood of the citizens of the Native American civilizations that occupied Eastern North America was spilled with much enthusiasm by the British during the 17th and 18th centuries. In fact their extermination campaign was so effective that the survivors were reduced to the depths of poverty. With the passage of time many were brought to the doorstep of oblivion and several passed the threshold.

Geoffrey Plank's "An Unsettled conquest" is one of the first efforts by an Anglo to document some of the atrocities the English committed. Until now their genocidal efforts in the Americas, in contrast to the documentation of Spanish efforts, were largely, perhaps in shame or in horror, ignored by Anglo writers. As a result not many in the modern world are aware that scalp proclamations were issued by them for men, women and children, and that they used germ warfare and other terror tactics against Native Americans that would make modern day terrorists proud.

It's long past the time for the unvarnished true history of North America to be written. Plank has taken a first step, perhaps others will now have the courage to finish the job. Then this fact will finally be accepted: Native North American civilizations were the ultimate in democratic social development. Modern society will probably never outdo them!

Geoffrey Matthews' and Byron Moldofsky's beautiful cartography is destroyed by the greatest error an atlas publisher can make--spreading the maps across two pages. The results are not just ugly; some information is lost in the crack.