LAUSR

this change has happened more rapidly, and sooner, in Houston than elsewhere. What distinguishes its treatment in this book is how the author can interweave the changing opinion data with the changing demographics. Doesn’t every city in America wish it had this resource for self-exploration? Feast your eyes. The final section shows how Houston is “coming to grips with the new realities.” A chapter on generational divides includes anecdotes on changes within the same family, buttressed by systematic survey evidence of opinion differences by age and immigrant generation. Unlike most studies that offer snapshots, Klineberg compares different groups on their changes in opinion or aggregate shifts in reported status over time. A following chapter pivots to Houston’s environmental challenges, “the new importance of quality of place.” Klineberg finds strong majority desire to address flooding problems and the ill effects of urban sprawl. Such efforts are needed if Houston is to ever to succeed in its bid to host the Olympics, or even to attract future skilled workers. With this evidence of growing support, he hopes to inspire readers and civic leaders to form a social movement to back organized efforts. At the same time, the business community also should recognize that future economic growth depends on solving the “quality of life” issues and reducing social divides. Interviews with enlightened business leaders point the way, if only their peers will recognize the popular groundswell and see the path ahead. Klineberg presses hard for reforms in the end, relying on his surveys of the residents for key support, but he also tries to motivate his audience of civic leaders with praise for past accomplishments and their proven record of rising to historic challenges. Can Houston now win acclaim for leading the way in a changing America? Will Klineberg’s positive strategy be effective? I plan to stay tuned. This book is a very inspiring read.