#1NEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLER-ThePulitzerPrize-winningauthorofEvictedreimaginesthedebateonpoverty,makinga“provocativeandcompelling“(NPR)argumentaboutwhyitpersistsinAmerica:becausetherestofusbenefitfromit.ABESTBOOKOFTHEYEAR:TheNewYorker,TheNewYorkTimesBookReview,NPR,OprahDaily,Time,TheStarTribune,Vulture,TheChristianScienceMonitor,ChicagoPublicLibrary,Esquire,CaliforniaReviewofBooks,SheReads,LibraryJournal“Urgentandaccessible...Itsmoralforceisagutpunch.“--TheNewYorkerLonglistedfortheInc.Non-ObviousBookAward-LonglistedfortheAndrewCarnegieMedalTheUnitedStates,therichestcountryonearth,hasmorepovertythananyotheradvanceddemocracy.Why?Whydoesthislandofplentyallowoneineveryeightofitschildrentogowithoutbasicnecessities,permitscoresofitscitizenstoliveanddieonthestreets,andauthorizeitscorporationstopaypovertywages?Inthislandmarkbook,acclaimedsociologistMatthewDesmonddrawsonhistory,research,andoriginalreportingtoshowhowaffluentAmericansknowinglyandunknowinglykeeppoorpeoplepoor.Thoseofuswhoarefinanciallysecureexploitthepoor,drivingdowntheirwageswhileforcingthemtooverpayforhousingandaccesstocashandcredit.Weprioritizethesubsidizationofourwealthoverthealleviationofpoverty,designingawelfarestatethatgivesthemosttothosewhoneedtheleast.Andwestockpileopportunityinexclusivecommunities,creatingzonesofconcentratedrichesalongsidethoseofconcentrateddespair.Somelivesaremadesmallsothatothersmaygrow.Elegantlywrittenandfiercelyargued,thiscompassionatebookgivesusnewwaysofthinkingaboutamorallyurgentproblem.Italsohelpsusimaginesolutions.Desmondbuildsastartlinglyoriginalandambitiouscaseforendingpoverty.Hecallsonusalltobecomepovertyabolitionists,engagedinapoliticsofcollectivebelongingtousherinanewageofsharedprosperityand,atlast,truefreedom.
POVERTY NPR AMERICA THENEWYORKER TIME VULTURE RESEARCH ESQUIRE NON
