How much of our lives, good and bad, should we credit to our personal decisions, and how much is just the inheritance of our culture, our families, and our parents who have failed their children? ... Where does blame stop and sympathy begin?

Required reading for my interdisciplinary seminar, but by far more interesting than the dry political theory books that make up the rest of the list. Brings into light a population that many of us don't give much second thought to unless it's relevant to our own lives, which is just one of the many problems with our current situation as a nation. Strikes a good balance between autobiography and commentary, making the narrative memorable and effective.