|  | Author: Paul Tough
Publisher: Mariner Books
List Price: $14.95
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Rating:  37 reviews
Sales Rank: 2727
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: Reprint
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 0.9
ISBN: 0547247966
Dewey Decimal Number: 362.748097471
EAN: 9780547247960
ASIN: 0547247966
Publication Date: September 10, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand new book! Delivered direct from our US warehouse by Expedited (4-7 days) or Standard (usually 10-14 days but can be longer). Expedited shipping recommended for speedier delivery. Over 1 million satisfied customers
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 37
 Challenged and Engaged February 9, 2009
Yaniyah (New York)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read this book in a couple of days which speaks highly for the writing style of Paul Tough and the much needed insights and information of Geoffrey Canada's work in the Harlem Children Zone. I was very inspired by Canada's "never quit but always be willing and courageous enough to make the necessary adjustments for success" attitude.
Tough's long term observations and his incredible outreach to so many stakeholders and experts from Harlem to Harvard produced viable results that all educators of inner city and poor children should ingest. I have given the book to my staff and made it required reading. My work will forever be informed by the brillant insights and practices of the Harlem Children's Zone.
The only mild criticism of the book is the minimum coverage of actual teaching techniques generally used by the faculty of Promise Academy. However, Canada has instituted a professional development program that is available to serious practitioners.
A must read for anyone committed to combatting the barriers of poverty on children and youth development.
 Inspirational - A Must Read! February 4, 2009
H. Soni (New York, NY)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
As both an educator and administrator, I found this book to be truly inspirational. Geoffrey Canada's dedication to change Harlem on so many levels is truly eye opening and amazing. I highly recommend the book.
Truly, no child needs to be left behind January 18, 2009
John C. Stepper
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book changed my views on education and gave me hope that we can indeed make a difference for every child.
The book is well-written - thoughtful, well-researched and evenly presented. The combination of recent academic studies with quotes and anecdotes from parents and students is very powerful. It puts a very human face on the issues and the proposed solutions while providing a solid underpinning based on facts. In addition, the inclusion of missteps and disagreements - despite the obvious enthusiasm the author has for Geoffrey Canada and his program - made the claims and assertions in the book that much more credible.
At a high level, much of the book is common sense: read to your children starting at a young age; talk to them instead of hitting them; provide positive reinforcement; put them in an environment where academic achievement is the norm; maintain basic discipline and respect - for yourself and for others.
What is noteworthy is the *comprehensive* nature of the program: pulling all of these themes together, starting at an early age, including the parents and, importantly, reaching out to *all* the eligible students in Harlem - not just the smart ones or those who volunteer.
One other takeaway: this book is not just relevant for poor families in Harlem. The lessons in this book - particularly the proven benefits of reading to your child at an early age and providing alternative discipline methods - are relevant for every family. When I put this book down, I promptly sat with my 9 year-old son and started reading "A Tale of Despereaux." (And I didn't yell at him if his mind wandered at times. :-))
A Much Better Education for Our Urban Children - What Would It Take? January 12, 2009
J. Schulz (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
One of our biggest challenges is to determine how we can do a dramatically better job of educating poor urban children. Those who have prematurely announced that they have found the answer are typically basing this on their experiences with somewhat elite groups of parents and children. But Geoffrey Canada and those involved in the Harlem Children's Zone project have worked to determine how we can help ordinary parents and children. Although this is still a work in progress, the story of their efforts, successful and less so, is told in Whatever It Takes. My only complaint about the book is that it is a little disjointed, but if the reader simply perseveres by the end of the book you will have the complete story. An excellent account for all those involved in urban education who wonder where the promised land may lie.
Whatever It Takes January 6, 2009
Concerned Citizen (Rhode Island)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Everyone should read this book. I suggest listening to the 30 minute radio story before reading. Search for "This American Life" series from National Public Radio. The episode that contains this story is "Going Big" which aired late September, 2008.
Showing reviews 16-20 of 37
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