Policies and Pain: A Personal and Philosophical Quest for Reform by Dr. Spencer M. Dayton
This review first appeared on Reader Views. Read the Reader Views version here.
Policies and Pain: A Personal and Philosophical Quest for Reform by Dr. Spencer M. Dayton is a refreshing read. In this slim volume, Dr. Dayton delves into healthcare, wealth distribution, the environment, workers’ rights, education, civil rights, housing, immigration, public goods, as well as militarism and war. In each chapter Dr. Dayton covers, in brief, the thoughts of profound philosophers and other important thinkers surrounding the chapter’s main topic. He then explains a leftist viewpoint on each topic and how differing thoughts stack up.
Ultimately though, Policies and Pain is a call to action. Dr. Dayton includes calls to action throughout this book, but the work itself serves as one in its own right. “Policies and Pain” draws clear lines as to how societies can and should be serving themselves and each other better. He demonstrates both practical and philosophical paradigm shifts throughout the book which allows readers to open their minds while having something to grab onto.
Dr. Dayton offers a very readable combination of philosophy, personal anecdotes, history, and analysis. This is key to easing readers into leftist thought. However, the book is best enjoyed by people with some knowledge of scholarly thinkers and philosophers. This is not a fault of the book, merely something to be noted when taking on the book or, perhaps, giving or assigning it to others (which I recommend that you do). Again though, “Policies and Pain” is quite readable and mostly introductory—don’t let not knowing a name or two mentioned in the book stop you from picking it up!
Earlier, I called Policies and Pain refreshing. I think this is an apt word to describe this book because it is written readably, presented digestibly, and moving in a call-to-action type of way—a rare combination in my experience. In a relatively short book, Dr. Dayton manages to cover quite a few vital issues of today while presenting them in an understandable historical and theoretical context. While some context may not be understood by all readers, this shouldn’t stop readers from diving in and taking away what they can from this important read. Policies and Pain by Dr. Dayton is for those who wish to better understand leftist ideology and readers who enjoy political science works.
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