Required reading

Using substantial empirical evidence, Mr. Riley's advances the thesis, that well meaning white Liberals and profiteering Black activists have harmed, not helped, Blacks starting with President Johnson and the war on poverty.

Whether one holds Liberal or conservative political views, Mr. Riley's arguments are too persuasive to ignore and the consequences of doing so are too serious.

26 people found this helpful

Must read for liberals!

As a self proclaimed Liberal, this book opened my eyes to government policy that has hurt the Black community.

16 people found this helpful

Good read, but...

This book has several great observations. Most are and enlightening and many are undeniable. Yet, I felt the writer took such a hard stance against Obama and the left that he failed to recognize any significant contributions of both. I'm a conservative African-American; however, I don't think, nor do I ever want to convey that all things left are bad for blacks. I really enjoyed the book though and highly recommend it.

16 people found this helpful

Definitely a conservative viewpoint!

If you are a conservative politically, you will love this book. If you are a liberal or somewhere in between, you will learn some interesting facts. I found it eye opening even if I didn't agree with everything he puts forth. It's filled with information and statistics that he uses to illustrate his beliefs that since the sixties, whites in our country have done harm to poor blacks in the name of helping them to get ahead.
I recommend it as a good read.

27 people found this helpful

This book clearly explains what has gone wrong...

I live in a white minority city. I also work in a high rise and our office is next door to an employment agency. I have often ridden in the elevator with young black men who are riding up or down headed to or from the agency. Nearly always they are dressed in pants around the crotch, giant t-shirts and hooded jackets. When I attempt small talk with them, their eyes rarely lift from the floor and I can barely understand their mumbled responses. They are teenagers with their entire lives ahead of them and are almost certainly already lost for good - and I suspect many of them will soon be fathers. On the other hand, my trainer at my gym for the past 7 years is black. He is from a divorced but loving, close knit family (like the author's), he is married with children and, while we come from very different worlds, it is clear that our core beliefs as to what constitutes a successful and happy life for ourselves and our families are the same. This book goes a long way to explain the difference between the teenagers in the elevator and my trainer.

12 people found this helpful

Easy to follow, informative.

I learned so much from this book that I did not know before. Much of it should be common sense, but it looks like too many politiicans disregard it.

8 people found this helpful

Tells it like it is...

What made the experience of listening to Please Stop Helping Us the most enjoyable?

Proves the point that no one oppresses black people more than black people.

Jason Riley seems to be one of the few black journalists in America who's willing to write the truth about black culture in our society. While heavy with statistics and numbers, Riley hits home the point that whites are not the reason blacks have social issues. He reinforces the failure of LBJ's "war on poverty" and points out the misleading opinions and manipulative behavior of "civil rights" activists like Sharpton. Very well written and I appreciate his truthfulness, which so much of journalism has lost.

14 people found this helpful

LIBERALS! PLEASE READ THIS BOOK!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Being a liberal myself, I have often thought about some of these issues. Being white, I have felt that it is strange that mostly white people make the decisions as to the "issues" of African Americans here in America. This has helped me to look from a different perspective at the race card being played so often. I was born in 1950 and today I wonder why things have not really changed. This book helped me to see why things as they were are still perpetuated as we evolve.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The author, of course.

Which scene was your favorite?

This is non-fiction, so no scenes really. The part about affirmative action was most enlightening.

If you could give Please Stop Helping Us a new subtitle, what would it be?

The title is perfect, so honest and so un-flowered. I so appreciate the honesty.

Any additional comments?

Again, liberals! Please read this book with an open mind. It's not too late for us to change and let go of the illusion that we are helping.

12 people found this helpful

Finally, somebody told the truth!!!!!!!!!

This was an excellent book! it's so refreshing to finally hear the truth about what is happened in our country and how certain groups who created certain problems tried to hide and mask those problems and blame other groups which is typically the case. James Riley is a master at uncovering this deception.

9 people found this helpful

Jason Riley presents his perspective...

of why blacks lag behind in education and earnings in what is supposed to be the post-racial US. Riley is a black conservative journalist who is part of the Wall Street Journal editorial board. He explains how "help" often reinforces behaviors that feed the a viscous cycle of poverty in the Urban black community. An example is the fact that urban blacks are most often educated in failing public schools because they are denied access to charter schools and private school vouchers.

The book is well written and thoughtfully presented. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

19 people found this helpful