Alex Kotlowitz is a respected author and journalist whose work delves deeply into urban affairs and societal issues. His writing, featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker, is characterized by its insightful exploration of human stories. Kotlowitz's reportage and personal narratives illuminate the complexities of human relationships and social structures, often focusing on themes of home, love, and money. Through his teaching roles at universities and public lectures, Kotlowitz continues to share his insights and foster discourse on critical societal concerns.
Set against a backdrop of personal and societal challenges, this narrative explores the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of identity. Through richly developed characters, the story delves into themes of resilience, love, and the impact of choices. The author's vivid storytelling invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the interconnectedness of experiences. With a blend of emotional depth and thought-provoking insights, it offers a compelling journey through the intricacies of modern life.
2020 J. ANTHONY LUKAS PRIZE WINNER From the bestselling author of There Are No Children Here comes a heartrending portrait of love and death in Chicago's turbulent neighborhoods. Over the past twenty years, Chicago has seen 14,033 homicides and around 60,000 gunshot injuries. What impact does this violence have on individuals and communities? Drawing on his extensive experience, Alex Kotlowitz chronicles a summer in the city, focusing on those who have survived the violence, revealing the resilience and fragility of the human heart and soul. The result is a captivating collection of intimate profiles that challenge our understanding of gun violence in America. Among the stories, we meet a man grappling with the consequences of killing a rival gang member as a teenager; a dedicated school social worker facing a student unwilling to testify about his best friend's murder; a witness to a wrongful police shooting haunted by his experience; and an aging former gang leader who creates a refuge for himself and friends. Through close, empathetic reporting, Kotlowitz offers a raw and honest portrayal of a city in crisis. These powerful narratives will resonate deeply and linger long after reading.
The book showcases a collection of Grant Pick's literary journalism, highlighting the lives of overlooked Chicagoans. Through poignant narratives, it tells the stories of a laundromat owner battling adversity and a doctor confronting his own mortality while seeking to inspire others in medicine. These compelling profiles offer a unique glimpse into the resilience and humanity of individuals often left in the shadows.
Bestselling author Alex Kotlowitz is one of this country's foremost writers on the ever explosive issue of race. In this gripping and ultimately profound book, Kotlowitz takes us to two towns in southern Michigan, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, separated by the St. Joseph River. Geographically close, but worlds apart, they are a living metaphor for America's racial divisions: St. Joseph is a prosperous lakeshore community and ninety-five percent white, while Benton Harbor is impoverished and ninety-two percent black. When the body of a black teenaged boy from Benton Harbor is found in the river, unhealed wounds and suspicions between the two towns' populations surface as well. The investigation into the young man's death becomes, inevitably, a screen on which each town projects their resentments and fears. The Other Side of the River sensitively portrays the lives and hopes of the towns' citizens as they wrestle with this mystery--and reveals the attitudes and misperceptions that undermine race relations throughout America.
This is the moving and powerful account of two remarkable boys struggling to survive in Chicago's Henry Horner Homes, a public housing complex disfigured by crime and neglect.
