WhatiftheidealizedimageofAmericansociety--alandofopportunitythatwillrewardhardworkwitheconomicsuccess--iscompletelywrong?Fewtopicshaveasmanymyths,stereotypes,andmisperceptionssurroundingthemasthatofpovertyinAmerica.Thepoorhavebeenbadlymisunderstoodsincethebeginningsofthecountry,withtherhetoriconlyratchetingupinrecenttimes.Ourcurrenteraoffakenews,alternativefacts,andmediapartisanshiphasledtoabreedinggroundforalltypesofmythsandmisinformationtogaintractionandlegitimacy.PoorlyUnderstoodisthefirstbooktosystematicallyaddressandconfrontmanyofthemostwidespreadmythspertainingtopoverty.MarkRobertRank,LawrenceM.Eppard,andHeatherE.Bullockpowerfullydemonstratethattherealitiesofpovertyaremuchdifferentthanthemyths;indeedinmanywaystheyaremoredisturbing.TheidealizedimageofAmericansocietyisoneofabundantopportunities,withhardworkbeingrewardedbyeconomicprosperity.Butwhatifthispictureiswrong?WhatifpovertyisanexperiencethattouchesthemajorityofAmericans?Whatifhardworkdoesnotnecessarilyleadtoeconomicwell-being?Whatifthereasonsforpovertyarelargelybeyondthecontrolofindividuals?Andifalloftheevidencenecessarytodisprovethesemythshasbeenreadilyavailableforyears,whydotheyremainsostubbornlypervasive?ThesearemuchmoredisturbingrealitiestoconsiderbecausetheycallintoquestiontheverycoreofAmerica’sidentity.Armedwiththelatestresearch,PoorlyUnderstoodnotonlychallengesthemythsofpovertyandinequality,butitexplainswhythesemythscontinuetoexist,providinganinnovativeblueprintforhowthenationcanmoveforwardtoeffectivelyalleviateAmericanpoverty.
