Changing lives through literature

"Robert P. Waxler believes that stories can save us from the chaos of our lives. He began the "Changing Lives through Literature" program to demonstrate that literature has the power to change the lives of criminal offenders. By examining the works of contemporary authors such as James Baldwin and Alice Walker, the first reading group, made up of eight convicted criminals, a probation officer, and a judge, became an exploration into the meaning of democracy. When the members of the group, who had been pushed to the margins and refused a voice, began to rediscover their identity, the idea for this anthology was born." "This book will arouse interest in anyone involved in, or moved by, the "Changing Lives through Literature" program. It is truly a valuable gift for alternative learners: criminal offenders in or out of prison, displaced workers, and any reader failed by the traditional educational system."--BOOK JACKET.