When reviewing non-fiction books, I always like to check the references and any other information provided by the author. Like any good biography, the author includes a timeline, a glossary to reference unfamiliar terms, and most important, a bibliography. Of the thirteen sources cited only three were scholarly presses, which seems a bit light. As a social historian, I find myself reading passages more critically than I would with a book containing at least half of its sources from scholarly presses.
For example, the author references Jane Addams goal to "end wars that consumed the world in the first half of the twentieth century" and while the author mentions both the Spanish-American War and World War I and that Jane was an advocate for peace, it is evident that Jane's real goal was helping immigrants and the poor who were impoverished by Industrial Revolutions and overcrowded cities around the world. Even more odd, the author transitions the rumor of the "Devil Baby" of Hull House to Jane Addams believing women had the right to vote with literally no segway.
As for Jane Addams, it is no wonder she was a social activist, her father was a friend and staunch supporter of Abraham Lincoln who raised enough money to form his own regiment when the Civil War erupted. He also supported his community by building the first school, church, and library in their growing town.
Jane was exposed to poverty at a young age and although she came from a privileged life, the sight of immigrants living in squalor stuck with her. LIke most social heroines, Jane suffered a myriad of heart ache. She lost her mother, father, and several siblings. She worked hard for what she attained and even had to step in and help her remaining siblings when they were incapable.
While reading, I couldn't help but feel we need more Jane Addamses in the world. "More and more people were interested in making the world a better place for everyone, not just the wealthy few" makes me nostalgic for the late nineteenth century. In my opinion, her most important social justice contributions were to the young child laborers, sick and suffering children, and to the children affected by unsanitary living conditions and abject poverty. ( )