Social Services - Book Reviews

Innovations in public services that promote equity and opportunity

System Error

Reviewed By Perla Ni

In Recoding America, Barack Obama’s former deputy chief technology officer argues that the success of government policies requires better implementation of digital services for the public.

Fall 2023

Volunteer Nation

Review By Benjamin Soskis

Elisabeth S. Clemens’ Civic Gifts demonstrates how voluntarism, long associated with locally based efforts, has been central to the project of building a strong nation-state. 

Fall 2020

Beyond Privatization

Review By Mark Schmitt

In their new book, Ganesh Sitaraman and Anne Alstott treat libraries as just one model of a public institution that can thrive alongside market-based options like bookstores and provide desirable benefits to society more broadly and equitably than the private sector can do alone. A book review from the Winter 2020 issue.

Winter 2020

Social Insecurity

Review By Teresa Ghilarducci

Katherine Newman’s Downhill From Here challenges current economic thinking by arguing that the crisis in retirement security is caused by a flawed system, not flawed humans.

Spring 2019