48 pages • 1 hour read
Tracy KidderRough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O'Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People follows Dr. Jim O’Connell’s work with Boston’s unhoused population through the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tracy Kidder accompanies Dr. O’Connell as he treats patients and provides essential services, while exploring how class and houselessness influence health care in the Northeastern United States. This book mentions instances of extreme violence such as rape, domestic violence, and childhood sexual assault, as well as depictions of grievous injury, illness, and substance abuse. It also addresses extreme injustices like racism, classism, and anti-gay bias.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tracy Kidder's Rough Sleepers has been praised for its compassionate and immersive portrayal of homelessness in Boston, highlighting systemic issues and providing deep character insights. Some reviewers found the pacing slow and desired more diverse perspectives. Overall, it is lauded for its empathetic narrative and thorough journalism, making it a compelling read.
Who Should Read Rough Sleepers?
Readers who are intrigued by in-depth explorations of social issues and human resilience will find Tracy Kidder's Rough Sleepers compelling. Similar to Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and Matthew Desmond's Evicted, this book appeals to those interested in empathetic storytelling and the complexities of homelessness in America.