{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.022082018927444796, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 5.2687747035573125, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 1, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Thinking Small: The United States and the Lure of Community Development by Daniel Immerwahr (review)

to dominate the second-level streams in both the science and arts tracks, and their position is analysed in terms of the marginalized position of the Indian community, for whom statistics demonstrate low levels of tertiary education, professional occupations, political standing or national wealth relative to their share of Malaysia’s population. The majority of Malay students are found in the lower streams of the school. Yet their future, thanks to affirmative action, remains more privileged and secure than those of either their Indian or Chinese schoolmates. I found the book’s descriptions of various strategies of success a good but most depressing read. They suggest an exam-obsessed, prosaic “boot-camp” grind of punitive educational attitudes where the love of learning plays little part. Strategies of resistance include adopting the camouflage of traditional gender norms and associated piety. However, the latter chapters of the book, in which the followup of participants is reported, make clear that top performers achieve success — primarily by leaving Malaysia, like the author — but that strategies of resistance may be of little use in challenging the status quo. This is particularly true for less-privileged young Indian women. In summary, this book is a useful and insightful addition to a research canon concerned with analysing the shifting and curious convolution of ethnicity and state politics that characterize contemporary Malaysia. A recommended read.