Limbo: A Critical Book

Review

Arkansas Tech University
PS 4003 Capstone Project
Cami Lynn Woodruff
Limbo

The Book:
Lubrano, A. (2004).Limbo: Blue-collar
roots, white-collar dreams. Hoboken,
NJ: Wiley.
Introduction

Education is the ultimate equalizer and opens more
doors despite any preborn station an individual is in.

A person with education can push past any obstacles

and build a new world for themselves.

Although education provides more opportunities and

jobs there are many times conflicts that arise when
someone who is born into the working class
transitions into the white collar professional world.

Limbo: Blue-Collar Roots, White Collar Dreams written

by Alfred Lubrano is essentially about this transition.
 About the Author

Alfred Lubrano was a blue-collar son of a
brick layer who transformed his life forever
through education.

In the book Alfred discusses the duality of

his life and many other Straddlers who
were born into blue collar families and by
sheer will pulled themselves into a new life
and culture despite their obstacles.

Currently, Lubrano is a reporter.

His accomplishments are vast including six

national awards in journalism and he has
written one book.
 Summary

In America there is a socioeconomic caste
system that determines what people will do
with their lives after they are born.

Lubrano points out that that there are specific

differences in manner, style, thought, and
approach to life that are class-based (18).

20% or less of people get out of the

environment they are born into.

1/5 children from working and lower classes

actually go to a four year college(11).

2/3 of middle-and upper-class children go to

a four year college (11).
 Summary Continued

In many cases, it was implied throughout the entirety
of the book that there was a lack of desire to pursue
education or enjoy learning from working class
families and friends (113).

Over time, not only did education benefit Straddlers

but also changed them which created alienation from
friends and family (65).

Because of their difficulty reconciling both their past

and present situations of who they are it makes living
a white-collar life difficult for most straddlers. In
perpetual limbo it is difficult to raise a family with
their mixture of class ideals (189).
Critical Evaluation:
Purpose

Lubranos purpose was to help Straddlers born blue-collar and
become white-collar develop a better identity and realize they are
not alone.

Likewise, he wanted white-collar individuals to become educated of what

blue-collar born children are born into and pull out of.

Frankly, a shorter book would have sufficed as many of the stories

repeated the same original theme.

Nevertheless, the point he hoped to make he clearly did accomplish

which is you can change things in your life.
 Critical Evaluation: Biases
Lubrano approaches the subject with

significant biases:

Lubrano used the term neanderthal repeatedly throughout

his text to describe both blue-collar actions and decisions.

Lubrano repeatedly implies that blue-collar individuals

cannot express or possess intellectual thoughts.

The theme of racism as a sole blue-collar issue was covered

in most chapters (15, 111).

Implications that religion and chastity is something of the

uneducated and after being enlightened most shed off these
limitations was a theme(61).

All of these are clear and obvious biases of the authors

world view that might not be class based but personal
opinions.
Critical Evaluation: Strengths

Limbo contributed to greater insight into the
identity crisis that happens with class jump.

Lubranos interview and thoughts on

socialization within the work environment and
relationships in class cross over was incredibly
insightful (170).

Likewise, the fear associated with Straddlers

raising children not to be self-entitled was
perceptive (183).

Basically, the conclusion of the book is you can

have it all and at times it will be hard because
you are going between classes but you just try
your best (225). The relational aspect of this
book proves his thesis.
 Critical Evaluation:
Weaknesses

There is an excessive amount of negative views of blue-
collar living.

The books limitation is audience, as they could be only

Straddlers and white-collar readers as blue-collar readers
would find this offensive and the author repugnant.

This was an opinion and interview based book it is not

clear if Lubrano had gotten a clear depiction of America as
whole. Unless he interviewed people throughout all five
regions of the U.S. there might not be clear enough
analysis to make this the rule.

There was no contradictory evidence suppressed in this

book. Since this was personal accounts based there was
no way on contradicting personal accounts or experiences.
 Conclusion

Limbo is a book about hardship, triumph, and identity.

It provides a deeper perspective about class culture many do not realize exists and is
often over looked.

Although there are many valid points on schooling, work environment socialization, and
relationships many facts seemed to be overstated.

I honestly would not recommend this book to family or friends because many of my
family and friends are blue-collar born.

Limbo provides a deeper understanding of the fears that Straddlers possess.

There is a better grasp of undertones of resentment of Straddlers towards their upper

class peers.

Straddlers feel in different school and work situations. The book gives a greater
perspective on how I can relate and work with different people who grew up in different
environments.
 References
Lubrano, A. (2004).Limbo: Blue-collar roots, white-collar
dreams. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.