A New York Times Notable Book of 2016 One of the Best Nonfiction Books of 2016; Publishers Weekly One of the Best Books of 2016; NPRWinner of the 2017 Lionel Gelber PrizeOne of 20 Notable Reads from 2016; Mother JonesFinalist for the 2016 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Current InterestShort-listed for the 2017 Arthur Ross Book AwardIn 2011; a wave of revolution spread through the Middle East as protesters demanded an end to tyranny; corruption; and economic decay. From Egypt to Yemen; a generation of young Arabs insisted on a new ethos of common citizenship. Their bravery and idealism stirred observers around the world and led militant jihadis to worry that they had been superseded by a new and peaceful uprising. Five years later; the utopian aspirations of 2011 have darkened. In one country after another; brutal terrorists and dictators have risen to the top as old divides reemerge and deepen. Egypt has become a more repressive police state than ever before; Libya; Syria; and Yemen endure civil war; and the extremists of ISIS have spread chaos and carnage across the region and beyond it. A Rage for Order tracks the tormented legacy of what was once called the Arab Spring. Writing with bold literary ambition; the distinguished New York Times correspondent Robert F. Worth introduces a riveting cast of characters. We meet a Libyan rebel who must decide whether to kill the torturer who murdered his brother; a Yemeni farmer who lives in servitude to a poetry-writing; dungeon-operating chieftain; two young Syrian women whose close friendship devolves into enmity as their sects go to war; and an Egyptian doctor who is caught between his loyalty to the Muslim Brotherhood and his hopes for a new; tolerant democracy. In a final chapter; Worth tells the moving story of the two eighty-something statesmen whose unlikely camaraderie allowed Tunisia to escape its neighbors’ worst fates. Combining dramatic storytelling with an original analysis of the Arab world today; A Rage for Order captures the psychic and actual civil wars raging throughout the Middle East and explains how the dream of an Arab renaissance gave way to a new age of discord.
#51870 in Books Anchor Books 2015-08-04 2015-08-04Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .76 x 5.13l; .0 #File Name: 0345803620384 pagesAnchor Books
Review
170 of 182 people found the following review helpful. A Fool's Errand!By L.W. SamuelsonThis book provides a look at the history of who became teachers; how schools were funded; why schools are traditionally underfunded; how the "profession" has changed over the years; how the politics governing school systems has changed and why. It reviews current efforts to reform education; and what research says about methodology. Goldstein has put a ton of research into the book and collaborated with many experts to put together a thought provoking look at the public school system and the teacher's role in education.I think teachers; parents; administrators; and school board members who want to improve their schools would find the book informative and well worth the read. It gives a broad based look at schools across the nation and uses the personal anecdotes from scores of people involved in education over the years to make the book real.As a former teacher; it was hard to refrain from turning this review into a rant and giving my personal opinions; but I would like to point out one thing. In my career I had twelve different principals. Only one ever gave me constructive criticism and only two gained my respect. In my experience; NCLB allowed mediocre administrators to keep thumbs on staff and turned teachers into automatons willing to do busy work. Teachers too often have become scapegoats for the ills of society instead of getting the respect they deserve. The majority of hard-working; dedicated; and effective teachers suffer the consequences caused by the small minority of bad teachers who administrators and colleges have failed to winnow out of the educational system.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Really interestingBy Stephen ArmstrongSometimes you read something that is so impressive that you wonder; "How did she do that?" This was my reaction to Goldstein's book. It has so much in it about teachers; the history of teaching; teaching reform; schools; emphasis on testing; and so forth; but is so analytical and focused--so non-screed-like--that I just walked away and said; "Wow. How did she do that?" and "That was encyclopedic."For me; the best part was the earlier history of the US teaching profession. The most depressing part involves the four iterations of school reform from 1983 onward; since it is not clear that anything has really improved.I was fascinated to learn that 70% of American parents really like their schools (I had thought the percentage was much lower); Having worked in a charter school; I am aware of how teachers can get exploited by this "new" model; and it does appear; in fact; that some charter school companies are not simply union-averse; but also union-busting.The last chapter has 11 "recommendations" or "what would be better" suggestions. These were all fairly predictable.I am now on to Ravitch's Reign of Error.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One Size Does Not Fit AllBy Franklin the MouseAs Ms. Goldstein accurately states; the continual battles erupting around teachers and schools is a manifestation of moral panic. Our Maine rockhead governor has been fanning these flames of angst by painting our state's schools as broken; corrupt; and littered with terrible teachers. He's a big advocate of charter and for-profit online schools. Ms. Goldstein's 'The Teacher Wars' might do him and anyone else some good who are interested in understanding the historical and present-day terrain of educating our country's young citizens. I doubt the governor would make the effort in reading the author's absorbing; well-written; and educational book; because he seems to have the critical-thinking skills of a bubble fart.For about a year; I was a substitute teacher who was justifiably fired for dropping the F-bomb in a 8th-grade class. A substitute teacher is nowhere near as challenging as being an actual teacher. You are left instructions by the absent teacher for that day. It's kind of a glorified babysitter job. I'm in awe of full-time teachers' commitment to their jobs. Ms. Goldstein's book demonstrates how they are not simply cogs in a machine. 'The Teacher Wars' covers such topics as the creation of unions and tenure; the controversies over IQ tests; going on teacher witch-hunts due to populace jingoism; school desegregation; bureaucratic inertia; community control vs union control; the highly influential federal report 'Nation at Risk'; standardized testing; No Child Left Behind; value-added measurement; charter schools; merit pay; high-stakes testing; and teacher-evaluation schemes. It also addressed the broader problems outside the realm of teacher control such as income; wealth; and racial inequalities.The ultimate goal is to help students become self-directed learners. Ms. Goldstein does a great job highlighting teaching's history; then addresses many of the issues being bandied about in today's environment. Her Epilogue; which are suggestions on some steps we should take to improve education; is the cherry on top of a fantastic book. Someone give her an apple.
