Crime And the American Dream

The authors continue their sociological perspective in this new edition as they explore why the US has exceptionally high levels of serious crime, and formulate an explanation. They argue the crime rates in the US are an outcome of the cultural and structural organization of American society, with its overwhelming emphasis on monetary success and its disappearing emphasis on gaining that success in a legal and moral manner. They believe society in the US is literally organized for crime, that serious crime in America is not taken as seriously as it should, particularly white-collar crime, and that the value foundation of the American dream can be said to be more of a fetish. They close with ideas about crime reduction through social reorganization and moving toward a mature society. Annotation c2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)