Underachievement is approached from a broad, integrated perspective in this insightful look at the talented adolescent who always performs below his or her optimum level of achievement. Professor Griffin examines the psychological, social, and scholastic reasons behind the phenomenon of the distracted and disengaged high school student. The result of this in-depth study: A unique volume describing effective student learning behavior, providing curricular and instructional proposals for motivating underachievers, and offering a construct that provides the basis for understanding the various factors that account for academic achievement.

Underachievement is approached from a broad, integrated perspective in this insightful look at the talented adolescent who always performs below his or her optimum level of achievement. Professor Griffin examines the psychological, social, and scholastic reasons behind the phenomenon of the distracted and disengaged high school student. The result of this in-depth study: A unique volume describing effective student learning behavior, providing curricular and instructional proposals for motivating underachievers, and offering a construct that provides the basis for understanding the various factors that account for academic achievement.

Living White brings together Robert S. Griffin's writing on race during the 2000-2005 period. Included are excerpts from his two books published during this time, The Fame of a Dead Man's Deeds: An Up-Close Portrait of White Nationalist William Pierce and One Sheaf, One Vine: Racially Conscious White Americans Talk About Race. Also here, in total or in large part, are eleven published articles, one unpublished article, and a speech. In addition, there is a published article about Professor Griffin, and a published interview in which he was the subject. Last, there are excerpts from two earlier books of his that relate to the story he is telling in this book. The writings are ordered chronologically for the most part and the author provides commentaries to accompany them. This gives Living White a narrative line and lends an autobiographical quality to it. In large measure, Living White is Dr. Griffin's own story over these past few years as it relates to race. Living White is about white people, and it is for white people. Its focus is on the personal, in contrast to the public, dimensions of the racial challenges that whites confront at this time in their history. This book isn't an analysis of race in America or elsewhere. It isn't about public policy or politics or organizational activity. It isn't about how the outside world is doing but how individual white people are doing. This book will support readers in living more honorable lives as white men and women.

After being questioned by a parent about how sports affects children, Griffin examined the impact of sports on children and reflected upon his own experiences with sports. What effect does sports have on work habits, social skills, confidence, independence, and aspirations? Does a sports experience provide the foundation for achievement in school and later life? Is competition good or harmful? What about the effects of sports involvement on girls? What are the characteristics of good athletes? How can parents help their children be successful in sports?

Griffin shares with parents and other readers his investigations of the published research pertaining to these questions and offers his own experiences and analyses. He asserts that sports is best assessed as it relates to the central issues children and adolescents confront while growing up--the agenda of the childhood, as he calls it. Griffin's explorations lead him to an examination of schools, professional sports, race and class, and the popular media as they affect children's interest and involvement in sports. He also investigates the phenomena of achievement (not just in sports) and good parenting.