When I see a man or woman living on the streets, I feel this immediate, intense battle happening inside of me. My first reaction - like most people - is to ignore them, but there is this intensity inside of me to answer the problem. Clearly, there is csome discomfort when a stranger is panhandling but a sense of superiority instinctually flows through me.

"He must be a drunk. She is obviously high or trying to get high. Why don't they go over to the shelter or church? A shelter will do a lot better than the change in my pocket."

But over the years, I have learned a lot about the realities of homelessness in America. The problem cannot be defined neatly in a short sentence. It is a complicated issue with numerous causes and zero quick fixes.

Though we all may have different experiences with homelessness, in the end a homeless person is a person. He or she is a loved child of our Creator. And that's the other side of the battle inside of me.

"How do I help this man? Will giving him a couple of dollars help? Am I really doing the right thing? Where can I do more?"

A couple of college students had this same question. Instead of sitting in class trying to understand the economics of homelessness in America or sitting through another sermon about feeding the poor, these two men set out to experience the other side. Under the Overpass chronicles Mike Yankoski and his friend's experience living on the streets of America. They spent six months in six different cities, spending a month in each major city. Normal activities that society rarely ever thinks about like eating, sleeping, or defecating became major challenges.

This journey really shows you the personal side of homelessness. When I think of the homelessness, I usually think of no shelter and money, but seldom do I think a lack of relationships or love. What shocked me the most about this book was Yankoski's apparent lightheartedness. Though he took the matter very seriously and it was definitely not an easy experience, he did appear to portray this aura of freedom. He didn't have to rush to class or a meeting; life had an unusually different pace. I don't think he was trying to communicate that in the book, but it was something I noticed.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in how we can help the poor and needy within our own borders.

Kind of like a reverse “In His Steps,” by Charles Sheldon, I commend these two young men for their bold and risky commitment of faith to learn firsthand what it is to be homeless. You won’t find neat and tidy answers to this issue, but perhaps you will gain a greater understanding of the God who loves each of these people with a love that is not offended and deterred by whatever problems they have that cause them to live on the streets. This can’t-put-it-down window into an aspect of life we’d often rather look the other way about, will give you a much keener insight into: 1.) The value of every human life, no matter the odor, appearance, or wreckage; 2.) The beauty, love, and compassion of the One whose dying to redeem us gives us all value; 3.) Your own heart.

You cannot read this account without being deeply challenged to not only care more and live out your Christian faith in real and costly ways, but to get to know the heart of the Father who sent His Son to redeem all of us. I’ve heard it said that when we get to heaven, the biggest question we will probably be asked is, “Did you learn to love?” The brothers who share this account with us are helping us to learn and equipping us to answer yes to this question. Barry McGuire wrote a song about planting seeds of kindness, planting seeds of love. “Under the Overpass” lets us us see the immense value of our planting those seeds, something each of us can do every day, wherever God has placed us.

I purchased this book on the recommendation of a friend and am so glad that I took the time to read it. I wish the author had gone a little more in depth of how they traveled, the people they met and others who helped them. Also by taking out of the "flavor" of the people to have the book published by a more conservative book publisher, took a little something out of the experience. I guess what kept in my mind was that for them, they knew that it would be over one day - they could call it quits and go home, but for others out there, they didn't have that option. . All in all, it was a book that stuck with me and it has helped me see homeless people as not just homeless, but more as people. I have an acquantance who is currently living shelter to shelter and this book opened my eyes to ways I could help her that go beyond just giving her money. I was amazed that for her, the most immediate need she had was being able to do her laundry. Most shelters do not have laundry facilities and she could only find one that had a waiting list of over three months.

This is actually the first book in some time that was engaging enough that I didn't want to quit by chapter three! I read the entire book over two evenings, and only took that long because I had to be up quite early the morning after I bought the book.

I actually learned about this book while reading an article on a blog about homelessness. I immediately came to Amazon to check out the book. This was also my first Kindle purchase. I'm still debating purchasing a Kindle device, but I do have Kindle for PC installed on my laptop. The Kindle purchase was flawless and a great experience:)

Mike Yankoski is willing to live out his faith rather than simply talk about it. Mike's Christianity is reality rather than fantasy, practicality rather than idle speculation.

I am a Christian and appreciate the religious dynamic in this book. However, I suspect the book would be of interest to those of other religious backgrounds as well. Mike does not gloss over the repeated failures of Christian communities to address social needs in their own church yards, but does celebrate the successes when they occur.

I would like to respond to James Wallace. Perhaps you were disappointed in this book because you were looking for a point that the writer was not trying to make. This book is a snapshot of Mr. Yankoski's experiences. Everything I read or watch or do must be filtered through my experiences and spiritual life. With that in mind, this book knocked me back a few inches.

When I opened the book I expected it to be "preaching to the choir." For the last 32 years I have either been living by the gracious hand outs of others or I have worked in Food Pantries and Soup Kitchens.

I know what it is like to wonder how I will feed my child his next meal. I also know what it is like to cook at the Salvation Army on Sundays and load bags of food into trunks, carts, & backpacks on Mondays. But none of that knowledge is enough.

Caring for the needy in the small ways; touching the people the Jesus touched the lepers; NEVER letting someone see you flare your nostrils when you pass them; caring for one another as automatically as breathing....these are the things that God applied to my heart as I read this book.

Should be a required reading for all humans! Life on the street from the street.

I read the reviews before ordering and almost didn't because people kept mentioning religion.

I bought it because of the 5 stars, despite the religious aspect and could tell by about 20 pages in that getting this book was the right decision. It was a pleasure to listen to as I listened on Audible.

Yes, these two church guys head out and live on the streets for 5 months. BUT, they were actually trying to survive and they kept a great journal. It was an eye opener and always a fascinating listen.

Glad they made it back safely. I like their recommendations at the end - including to not do what they did by trying to live on the streets yourself. This is one book that I will keep in my library and listen to every 5 years as it is that special of a book.

I originally purchased this book over a year ago because I heard an interview with the author on a local radio station. I've given away my first copy and purchased this copy for my daughter to read, she could not put it down, just as I could not put it down when I first read it.

The book is truly inspiring, heartwarming and heart wrenching in places. After reading, I had a greater desire to see the world around me in the way Jesus sees it. I began to look for small, secretive ways; I could extend the love of our Savior to people. I was inspired to carry bags of food and water, with an encouraging note or religious pamphlet included, in my car to hand out to people who stand by the side of the highway with "will work for food" signs.

This book is well worth the price.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It teaches us so much about life on the streets from not only their own personal experience but from the personalities they met and shared a moment, meal or conversation. I found this book inspiring, convicting and soul-searching and underlined many comments and quotes so that I can browse through it again in the future. One of those quotes is found on page 217 "I really do think that caring for the needy person begins with loving God more completely. " as well as this convicting one found on page 206-207 "What would happen, I wondered, if two rank, homeless strangers like Sam and I wandered into enjoy the air-conditioning at my church back home? Good things,I hoped, but I wasn't so sure anymore. The months of rejection by church after church had given me my doubts. Regular church attenders tend to come to our places of worship to feel better, not to be hit with the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable, the threatening."

Mike and Sam's journey is a blessing to the Christian community.....thanks for doing what you did so that we can do what we do.....and should do.

A helpful insight into life outside the norm. Without the comforts we take for granted life can be both difficult and scary.

From the outset I was hooked into this book! Having worked some time myself among homeless, disadvantaged, mental health & disabled clients I found this book shouting the message I have always believed. We are all a shared humanity, and the Church, which the author reminds us, is us 'We don't go to church, we are the church." ... the Church has often missed this connection. The book gives many sad examples of the saints overlooking the marginalized. This book shares with us an insightful journey which every Christian ought to live as a new norm. Remember, Christ Himself was a homeless person! We are all in this world together. Read it! Please! Then Act!

I read this book years ago and was so glad to see that it was still available to purchase.

Excellent.

I would recommend that you read this book, it will challenge how you see the homeless, people with names!