<DIV>The American public education system is in crisis. Millions of students attend &ldquo;failure factories&rdquo; that produce more drop-outs than graduates; millions more attend &ldquo;nice&rdquo; schools that mask mediocre achievement. The U.S.&rsquo;s reading and math scores stagnate and even fall behind, while other countries continue to advance. But many are working to reinvent this system. The film Waiting for <i>&quot;Superman,&quot;</i> directed by <i>An Inconvenient Truth</i>&rsquo;s Davis Guggenheim, chronicles these efforts through the interlocking stories of a handful of students and families searching for alternatives, and of reformers proving that all kids can learn. <p>Expanding on the film&rsquo;s arguments, the book Waiting for <i>&quot;Superman&quot;</i> explores politically charged topics through a series of essays by thinkers at the leading edge of educational innovation. It shows how failing schools destroy neighborhoods&mdash;not the reverse&mdash;and how research reveals that dedicated, attentive teachers are what help at-risk kids succeed. With candor, poignancy, and hope, this book encourages those inspired by the film to join the battle to save American education and our children&rsquo;s future.</p> </div>