Abigail M. Thernstrom

The "American Dilemma," Gunnar Myrdal called the problem of race in his classic 1944 book. More than half a century later, race remains the issue that dwarfs all others - the problem that doesn't get solved and won't go away. But in the decades since Myrdal wrote, much has changed, say the authors of America in Black and White. Progress - too little acknowledged - has been heartening. Pessimists talk of the "permanence of racism," and say that things are as bad as ever. In fact, the authors show, the status of blacks has been transformed in recent decades, and there is no going back. Problems remain, of course. But they will not be solved by traditional civil rights strategies, the authors argue. Affirmative action programs, for instance, do nothing to help the black underclass. Racial preferences cannot rescue the high school dropout who is too unskilled for the modern world of work. Racial progress ultimately depends on our common understanding that we are one nation, indivisible - that we sink or swim together, that black poverty impoverishes us all, and that black alienation eats at the nation's soul.

You dont need to have been born under a lucky star, or with incredible wealth, or with terrific contacts and connections, or even special skills ... but what you do need to succeed in any of your life goals is self-discipline. Unfortunately, most people give in to the two worst enemies of success: they take the path of least resistance (in other words, they are lazy) and/or they want immediate gratification: they dont consider the long-term consequences of the actions they take today. No Excuses! shows you how you can achieve success in all three major areas of your life:Your personal goals. Your business and money goals. Your overall happiness. Each of the 21 chapters in this book shows you how to be more disciplined in one aspect of your life, with end-of-chapter exercises to help you apply the no excuses approach to your own life. With these guidelines, you can learn how to be more successful in everything you do instead of wistfully envying others who you think are just luckier than you. A little self-discipline goes a long way ... so stop making excuses and read this book!