Hollowing Out the Middle : The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America - Patrick J. Carr

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Hollowing Out the Middle

The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America

By: Patrick J. Carr, Maria J. Kefalas

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Paperback | 27 July 2010

At a Glance

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256 Pages

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0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1

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Two sociologists reveal how small towns in Middle America are exporting their most precious resource—young people—and share what can be done to save these dwindling communities

In 2001, with funding from the MacArthur Foundation, sociologists Patrick J. Carr and Maria J. Kefalas moved to Iowa to understand the rural brain drain and the exodus of young people from America’s countryside. They met and followed working-class “stayers”; ambitious and college-bound “achievers”; “seekers,” who head off to war to see what the world beyond offers; and “returners,” who eventually circle back to their hometowns. What surprised them most was that adults in the community were playing a pivotal part in the town’s decline by pushing the best and brightest young people to leave.

In a timely, new afterword, Carr and Kefalas address the question “so what can be done to save our communities?” They profile the efforts of dedicated community leaders actively resisting the hollowing out of Middle America. These individuals have creatively engaged small town youth—stayers and returners, seekers and achievers—and have implemented a variety of programs to combat the rural brain drain. These stories of civic engagement will certainly inspire and encourage readers struggling to defend their communities.

Industry Reviews

"Written in an easily accessible style for the lay reader, this volume is filled with their observations of life in a rural community that is just "hanging on," and stories from the young adults they met."--Journal of Rural Social Sciences

"An intriguing new book . . . [They] argue that it will take more than just free land initiatives to reverse rural America's brain drain."--Christina Gillham, Newsweek

"A fascinating study that brilliantly describes and analyzes the problems of rural towns in America that are emptying out."--William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

"The authors present a brave and daunting examination of why the most talented, the most productive young people leave our small towns. . . . This book is so generative, so fiercely compelling . . . I urge you to read it."--Mildred Armstrong Kalish, author of Little Heathens: Hard Times and High Spirits on an Iowa Farm During the Great Depression

"The undoing of Middle America is the great secret tragedy of our times. For shining a bright, unwavering light on the unfolding disaster, Carr and Kefalas deserve enormous credit." --Thomas Frank, author of What's the Matter with Kansas?

"Deft and detailed case studies bring the population to life. . . . The authors alert readers to this major change with clarity and compassion."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A worthy contribution to a conversation we desperately need to have."--Bill Kauffman, Wall Street Journal

"Deftly researched and written, this book is highly recommended for sociologists, educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned about the future of this country."--Library Journal, starred review

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Sociology & Anthropology Sociology Sociology & Customs & Traditions Society & Culture Social Groups Urban Communities Rural Communities Nature & The Natural World The Countryside Population & Demography Social Classes

Social Issues & Processes Social Mobility

Preface	p. ix
Introduction: The Heartland and the Rural Youth Exodus	p. 1
The Achievers	p. 27
The Stayers	p. 53
The Seekers	p. 85
The Returners	p. 107
Conclusion: What Can Be Done to Save Small Towns?	p. 137
Acknowledgments	p. 173
Notes	p. 177
References	p. 209
Index	p. 223
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Hollowing Out the Middle

The Rural Brain Drain and What It Means for America

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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