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alexisgarcia's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
orinthebard's review against another edition
Wasn't expecting this to be poverty porn for rich people lol. You cant save the rest of us from poverty when you still see us as Others. And when you pretend the system is dysfunctional and not working EXACTLY in the way that made you rich.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
meganpbell's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This direct and accessible study of American™️ brand poverty presents a clear, comprehensive, and compassionate dissection of the structural forces at work against the poor and for the rich. I really appreciated how powerfully and pragmatically Desmond destigmatizes poverty and that he provides policies that could bring about lasting change as well as ways to vote with your dollars for greater economic equality.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Racism, Police brutality, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
I read "Evicted" a few years ago, and loved the knowledge I took away from that book, so I was excited to pick up Matthew Desmond's latest book that explores American poverty.
"Poverty, by America" explores why poverty is so prevalent in America, and it presents suggestions about what could be done to amend these horrid situations. Through firsthand accounts of interacting with people below the poverty line, and thorough research on the topic of poverty, Matthew Desmond has created a book that is fraught with knowledge every American who has a heart should be seeking.
As someone who read and loved "Evicted" I was very happy to read some updated content on the housing crisis, especially in relation to what happened to housing because of COVID. It was disheartening to hear that things are no better off now, than they were when he wrote Evicted years ago. However, there was one inspiring story about a group of people in low-income housing that fought back against the system, won, and are making their homes a better place. That should be the American dream.
It is so upsetting to learn just how much of a business it has become to keep the rich rich and to keep the poor suffering. It could be so easy to do something to help those who are struggling, but it would mean the rich cannot cheat the system, and that does not bode well for the people in charge.
I was also shocked to learn, and completely heartbroken how deep racism still runs within low-income housing and poverty. We may have come a long way, but there is still so much more to do to become a country to be proud of.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to learn more about poverty, and what it truly means to be poor in America.
"Poverty, by America" explores why poverty is so prevalent in America, and it presents suggestions about what could be done to amend these horrid situations. Through firsthand accounts of interacting with people below the poverty line, and thorough research on the topic of poverty, Matthew Desmond has created a book that is fraught with knowledge every American who has a heart should be seeking.
As someone who read and loved "Evicted" I was very happy to read some updated content on the housing crisis, especially in relation to what happened to housing because of COVID. It was disheartening to hear that things are no better off now, than they were when he wrote Evicted years ago. However, there was one inspiring story about a group of people in low-income housing that fought back against the system, won, and are making their homes a better place. That should be the American dream.
It is so upsetting to learn just how much of a business it has become to keep the rich rich and to keep the poor suffering. It could be so easy to do something to help those who are struggling, but it would mean the rich cannot cheat the system, and that does not bode well for the people in charge.
I was also shocked to learn, and completely heartbroken how deep racism still runs within low-income housing and poverty. We may have come a long way, but there is still so much more to do to become a country to be proud of.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking to learn more about poverty, and what it truly means to be poor in America.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
modernthymes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
Minor: Addiction, Abortion, and Pregnancy
blakeandbooks's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, and Classism
sydapel's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
4.5
Rating non-fiction feels odd to me, but this was hard hitting in all the right ways. You'd think I'd run out of capacity to be surprised at how conditioned we are to expect needless and easily solved suffering, but unfortunately the depths of the shame I have for how often this country fails it's citizens is endless. I particularly like how directly Desmond calls out middle and upper class Americans for benefitting from the conditions of poverty, especially when we often benefit directly from similar programs.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Classism
audreylee's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.0
A thoughtful way of looking at poverty in America. It is nice to have an informative look at poverty where it isn't made into a moral failure.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racism and Classism
gabriella_'s review against another edition
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
This was really informative and depressing but with a dash of hope
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Pandemic/Epidemic
aqtbenz's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia