From the hardback: `If their book has the impact it deserves (and
no technical knowledge is needed to understand it), it may save the
lives of millions. It is one of the most important contributions to
economic thought for many a year.' Financial Times
`magnificent.'
Robert Oakeshott, The Political Quarterly
`excellent book'
The Economist
`This book, by two of the most eminent modern students of hunger,
is wholly and honourably different.' Times Literary Supplement
'This is a book of hope which highlights how action on behalf of
people whose lives are marred by persistent hunger, can and is
likely to pay off. A book to be read without delay by every
Minister of Agriculture - indeed by every government minister whose
decisions have anything to do with agriculture.'
International Agricultural Development, Nov/Dec, 1990
'An admirable book, the result of careful empirical research. No
specialist knowledge of economics is needed to understand it.'
William St Clair, Financial Times
'of great interest ... Their conclusions are well argued and
extremely well documented with extensive case studies and a list of
bibliographical references running to over seventy pages.'
Michael Taylor, Crucible, January-March 1991
'This is an extremely rich book that challenges many of the common
assumptions about development and international aid. Written in a
fluid and highly accessible style, it ranges widely, tackling many
issues that are at the centre - or should be at the centre - of the
development debate.'
Marie Gottschalk, Far Eastern Economic Review
'The book is wide-ranging, sharply analytical, and highly readable
... if governments took enough notice of this book, agencies like
Oxfam would not be needed.'
Tony Vaux, Emergencies Officer, Oxfam UK and Ireland, Development
in Practice, Vol. 1, No.1
'important book ... this marshalling of evidence and arguments is
both valuable and formidable ... in a vast and rapidly expanding
literature on famine and hunger ... Hunger and Public Action will
rapidly become essential reading'
Tim Dyson, London School of Economics, Population Studies, 45/1
`This book devotes as much attention to the successes as to the
reasons for failure and, despite its scholarly approach is
essentially a practical guide to preventing famine.'
Oxfam
`The authors make a powerful and convincing argument for their
approach to famine relief, and it is perhaps the most important
argument in a generally powerful and convincing book. It has
changed the way I will think about famine relief from now on.'
Robert M Solow, The New York Review of Books
`what they have to say about famine is arresting, and not at all
what the ordinary good-hearted donor to relief efforts has come to
expect.'
The New York Review
'The authors are eminently entitled to handle the subject. Though
the book is written by two high-powered economists, it is written
in an extremely lucid style without economic jargons. It is meant
for all those who are genuinely concerned about human misery due to
various deprivations. The authors' deep understanding of the theme
and their empathy with the cause of the victims of hunger and
deprivation are reflected throughout the book.'
Dr. N.J. Kurian, Future, 1992
'Sen and Dreze's book fills a long-persisting gap in thinking about
hunger ... their eclectic work synthesises an extraordinary range
of practical and academic approaches ... the authors write with
style. The clarity of their writing, in fact, may suggest that
their analysis is simplistic. This is not the case.'
'This is an important and timely book ... it is an excellent
contribution to development economics. One hopes that it will be
read by all concerned social scientists, World Bank and IMF
economists, as well as by students of development economics.'
P.N. Junankar, Australian National University, Economica, 2/92
'This book is a comprehensive review of its field, lucid and
well-structured, with a remarkable coverage of the literature. It
is an essential reference work for those concerned with research
and policy on reducing hunger and poverty.'
Michael Hubbard, University of Birmingham, Public Administration &
Development
'Although it has been three years since this book was published,
the analysis carried out by the authors continues to provide
valuable insights into the complex problems of famine and chronic
under-nourishment in the developing world ... this book has likely
been read by most academic researchers seriously concerned with
economic development and food security. That audience would have
undoubtedly found the book to be scholarly, thoughtful and
well-written ... Hunger and Public Action is a book that should
appear on reading lists prepared by faculty who want their students
to gain real insight into the complex issues associated with famine
and chronic
under-nourishment.'
Journal of Nutrition Education
`Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen at last provide an empirical and
comparative analysis that establishes, contrary to widespread
assumptions, that hunger and famine are not inevitable and are not
caused by food scarcity ... Their clarity, depth, and common sense
are nothing short of path-breaking ... Through clear, precise
analysis, Hunger and Public Action shows that famines can be
prevented through early measures centered on public employment
... This is a very satisfying book.'
Contemporary Sociology
`Hunger and Public Action is a quite unconventional and powerful
work of synthesis ... It makes a convincing case for how famine can
be eradicated relatively easily and immediately.'
Journal of Peasant Studies
`Hunger and Public Action ... is an important contribution to the
literature on antihunger policy.'
World Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Abstracts
'"the primary focus of this book is on action, rather than on
measurement" ... As such then, it is an excellent complement to the
three volume Drèze and Sen work also under review.'
Thomas D. DeGregori, University of Houston, Africa Today, 4th
Quarter, 1992
'the most ambitious treatment of the intertwined issues of hunger,
famines and well-being currently in print ... Drèze and Sen's
collection is a massive achievement and will doubtless become an
obligatory reference for every student on the subject. Certain
essays, notably those by Jean Drèze himself, should also become
obligatory reading for all practitioners in the field.'
Development and Change, Vol. 24 (1993)
`a thoroughly researched, comprehensive survey of the problem of
world hunger ... There is, clearly, a place for this book in public
libraries since it gives an overview of a problem that is of vital
interest to the public ... It is an invaluable information source
not only throughout its various chapters, but also in the
exhaustive reference section on pages 281-357'
Theological Book Review
`A must for the study of poverty and famine.'
Arabsheibani, London School of Economics
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