Description
Book SynopsisIntroduces the reader to the world of homelessness and drug addiction in the contemporary United States. This work develops a cast of characters around the themes of violence, race relations, sexuality, family trauma, embodied suffering, social inequality and power relations.
Trade Review"A deeply nuanced picture of a population that cannot escape social reprobation, but deserves social inclusion... The collage of case studies, field notes, personal narratives and photography is nothing short of enthralling." - Starred Review Publishers Weekly "Get this book and read it... A hell of a story... These people walk by you every day and should not remain invisible." San Francisco Bay Guardian "Leaders and readers alike should pay attention to - and heed its warnings and advice... Unflinching and objective... Must be read - and seen." San Francisco Chronicle "The authors dare you to ignore the subculture in their field notes and arresting black-and-white images, urging that our failed social systems need repairing and we cannot continue to let these outliers remain invisible." Utne "Recommended." Choice "One of the most original and important works of its kind... A pathbreaking photo-ethnography, powerful in presentation, content and scope... A must-read, [it] will rock the world of the sheltered middle class and shed new light on the pervasive structural inequalities plaguing contemporary society." -- Elijah Anderson, author of Streetwise: Race, Class, and Change in an Urban Community. Philadelphia Inquirer "Truly remarkable book." -- Grazyna Zajdow Arena Magazine "Powerfully candid." Zocalo (The Public Square Blog) "With a combination of photographs, dialogue, field notes and critical theory, the book provides a detailed analysis of the social structure of an underground society in contemporary America." Roof Magazine "This book offers as complete and disturbing a view as can be had of just how awful and intractable street life in San Francisco can get." San Francisco Chronicle
Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Theory of Lumpen Abuse 1. Intimate Apartheid 2. Falling in Love 3. A Community of Addicted Bodies 4. Childhoods 5. Making Money 6. Parenting 7. Male Love 8. Everyday Addicts 9. Treatment Conclusion: Critically Applied Public Anthropology References Notes on the Photographs Acknowledgments
