Calling on a decade of participant observation at a residence for mentally retarded adults, anthropologist Michael V. Angrosino's riveting and de-mystifying account offers an insider's picture of the lives of the inhabitants of Opportunity House. Using the narrative device of a dozen fictional short stories told in the voices of various community members as well as that of the researcher, Angrosino weaves a life-histories approach to ethnography together with an innovative culture concept to tackle the complexities of representing marginalized subgroups. As opposed to traditional clinical or statistical studies, which have insufficiently conveyed the subjective and experiential perspectives of retarded people themselves, Angrosino presents an intimate and complex picture of a highly functioning community with its cast of entrepreneurs, bullies, victims, and do-gooders. This wonderfully readable and captivating account is therefore an important resource for those interested in mental illness and disability, as well as a model for those experimenting with forms of ethnographic writing.

chapter 1 Acknowledgmentschapter 2 Foreword by James Peacockchapter 3 Prefacechapter 4 Introduction: Fellow Travelerchapter 5 Part I: The Lay of the Landchapter 6 1. The Ghost of Dallas Lumbleychapter 7 Part II: Making a Livingchapter 8 1. Any Port in a Stormchapter 9 2. The Left Stuffchapter 10 3. On Target Enterpriseschapter 11 4. Midnight at the Budget Innchapter 12 Interlude: I Take Pen in Handchapter 13 Part III: Relationshipschapter 14 1. Where the Heart Ischapter 15 2. A Little Bit of Warmchapter 16 3. The Chadster Steps Outchapter 17 4. Days of Sunshine, Days of Rainchapter 18 5.Perfect Palschapter 19 Interlude: Fit to Printchapter 20 Part IV: 1. The Boys in the Vanchapter 21 2. How Sweet the Soundchapter 22 3. The Lonesome Truckerchapter 23 4. By the Chimney with Carechapter 24 Conclusion: All Toldchapter 25 Coda: Til It's Overchapter 26 Acknowledgmentschapter 27 Forewordchapter 28 Prefacechapter 29 Introduction: Fellow Travelerchapter 30 Part I: The Lay of the Landchapter 31 1. The Ghost of Dallas Lumbleychapter 32 Part II: Making a Livingchapter 33 1. Any Port in a Stormchapter 34 2. The Left Stuffchapter 35 3. On Target Enterpriseschapter 36 4. Midnight at the Budget Innchapter 37 Interlude: I Take Pen in Handchapter 38 Part III: Relationshipschapter 39 1. Where the Heart Ischapter 40 2. A Little Bit of Warmchapter 41 3. The Chadster Steps Outchapter 42 4. Days of Sunshine, Days of Rainchapter 43 5.Perfect Palschapter 44 Interlude: Fit to Printchapter 45 Part IV: 1. The Boys in the Vanchapter 46 2. How Sweet the Soundchapter 47 3. The Lonesome Truckerchapter 48 4. By the Chimney with Carechapter 49 Conclusion: All Toldchapter 50 Coda: Til It's Over