Nonfiction: Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

In 2017, Matthew Desmond's Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, so it is understandable why many readers were anticipating this year's Poverty, by America. Desmond once again tackles a tough topic and presents what he found through extensive research, personal experience, and a critical look at this country's history. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity of getting my copy of the book signed by the author while at this year's San Antonio Book Festival, and judging by the size of the crowd that showed up for his session, and the long line at the author signing, it seemed clear that this book also resonated with readers.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that looks at the poverty situation in the U.S, asking the question of why the richest country on earth has a higher rate of poverty than its counterparts. Desmond begins the book by explaining what poverty is, and what it means when someone in the U.S. falls below that poverty line. Then Desmond explores why it continues to be such a problem in our country, with chapter titles such as "How We Undercut Workers," and "How We Force the Poor to Pay More." As common questions and counter arguments are mentioned along the way, Desmond explores and dispels them, using both history and his own research. The final chapters of the book ultimately provide solutions and ways to get involved in change, while acknowledging that it will not be easy.

My Verdict: What I love most about this book is that Desmond is not at all shy about the message he is trying to present here. This country has a problem with poverty, and there are ways to solve it, but it takes serious involvement and accountability. Throughout the book, Desmond is sure to bring up the common explanations and excuses that are often given for why things are the way they are (arguments such as "people do not want to work" and "immigrants take away our jobs"), as well as the ones people use to explain why they could never change (such as the scarcity narrative), and dismantles these arguments, while also offering answers and solutions. And he is not afraid to call out various companies, states, even a few specific neighborhoods that he feels are contributing to the problem. Sure, parts of it are uncomfortable, but the book is short. It may be worth sitting through that discomfort and wondering why it's there in the first place. 

Favorite Chapter: Chapter 5, "How We Rely on Welfare," pulls apart many of the myths and much of the rhetoric we have all heard in arguments about welfare.

Favorite Quote: "There is a sociological insight here. When the ground feels unstable underfoot, we tend to hunker down and protect our own, growing less willing to consider what we have and more apt to pay mind to what we could lose. Stacks of social psychological evidence confirm that when we feel resources are scarce or could be, when we sense that our status (or that of our racial group) is slipping, we discard our commitments to equal opportunity." - from Chapter 9, "Tear Down the Walls." 

Recommended Reading: Evicted is a compelling read, and I also recommend Caste by Isabel Wilkerson.