Joined at the Heart: The Transformation of the American Family - Softcover

Gore, Al; Gore, Tipper

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805074503 ISBN 13: 9780805074505

Publisher: Holt Paperbacks, 2003

Synopsis

Al and Tipper Gore have long considered family their bedrock. Now, in this provocative and personal book, they explore the myriad ways in which the idea of family is being redefined in America.

Over the past two generations, cultural shifts and economic pressures have profoundly affected every family in the nation: balancing work and family now poses more of a challenge than ever, day care and after-school child-care programs are often dangerously inadequate, and technological advancements have dramatically changed the ways we communicate. But change has also opened up exciting possibilities, yielding an explosion of new family forms and novel solutions to age-old problems.

In this penetrating and moving exploration of the contemporary family landscape, the Gores share stories drawn from their own experiences and those of a dozen other families they have come to know over the years. Combining personal insight and expert opinions, historical and global perspectives, Joined at the Heart identifies an emerging reality-and demonstrates that the human need for family is stronger than ever.

About this title

About the Author

Al Gore is the former Vice President of the United States and author of the New York Times bestseller Earth in the Balance . During his twenty-five years of public service, he fought for programs and policies that are responsive to the needs of families and communities.

Tipper Gore has served as adviser to the president on mental health policy and was special adviser to the Interagency Council on the Homeless for eight years. Together, they organized an annual two-day forum called "Family Re-Union," which is now in its eleventh year. They have four children and two grandchildren, and live in Nashville,
Tennessee.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Joined at the Heart:

Not enough time. Not enough energy. Not enough sleep. Faced with too many competing demands, many families find they simply don't have enough hours in the day to give both work and family their absolute best. With record numbers of parents putting in stunningly long-and steadily increasing-hours at the workplace, the hard truth is that in America work and family are wildly out of balance. Work is important, but so is family. We want good jobs, good incomes, and a strong economy. But we also want strong families, good marriages, and the chance to be good parents to our children. We want a decent night's sleep and time with loved ones and friends. In short, we want well-rounded lives that are fulfilling both at work and with our families.

The realization that there is no easy way to achieve this goal is beginning to sink in. To bring our lives back into balance, we must do more than decide how much we value our families: for most people, that's not difficult at all. The real challenge is measuring the relative values of work and family and then manifesting those values in our daily lives.

Edition details

• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0805074503
• ISBN 13: 9780805074505
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 432