Book Review: Poverty, By America

“Poverty, by America” written by Matthew Desmond, was a fascinating read. The author, also known for his work in “Evicted,” with many considering it his best book. “Poverty by America” delves into the causes of poverty in the United States, primarily attributing it to actions by Americans themselves. The book not only explores the roots of poverty but also provides recommendations for its eradication.

The prologue sets the stage effectively, and on page 7, Desmond states, “America’s poverty is not for lack of resources. We lack something else.” He further emphasizes, “Those of us living lives of privilege and plenty must examine ourselves.” These impactful statements compel readers to reflect deeply on the societal issues affecting millions of Americans in one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

Desmond discusses the effects of poverty on personhood on page 21, asserting that it alters one’s thinking and hinders the realization of full potential. Quoting research by behavioral scientists Sendhil Mullainathan and Elder Shafir, he reveals that being poor diminishes cognitive capacity more than a full night without sleep. The book contends that poverty not only deprives people of security and comfort but also drains their cognitive resources.

In the chapter titled “Why haven’t we made more progress?,” Desmond scrutinizes the stalled progress in the United States despite increased spending on relief. He criticizes the redirection of funds under President Bill Clinton’s welfare reform, highlighting instances where money intended for the poor ended up in questionable areas such as official vehicles, concerts, and payments to celebrities.

Desmond advocates for investing in programs that assist single parents in balancing work and family life, such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and universal pre-K. He laments the increasing privatization of these services, limiting opportunities for single parents to pursue education or work full-time.

The author shares some thought-provoking (sometimes shocking) observations throughout the book:

  • “Americans who rely on the most visible social programs (like public housing or food stamps) are also the most likely to recognize that the government had been a force for good in their lives, but Americans who rely on the most invisible programs (namely tax breaks) are the least likely to believe that the government had given them a leg up.” (P. 95)
  • “Overwhelmingly, voters who claim the mortgage interest deductions are the very ones who oppose deeper investments in affordable housing, just as those who received employer-sponsored health insurance were the ones pushing to repeal the Affordable Care Act. It’s one of the more maddening paradoxes of political life.” (P. 96)
  • “The top 20 percent of income earners receives six times what the bottom 20 percent receives in tax breaks.” (P. 101)
  • “Progressive cities have built the highest walls, passing a tangle of exclusionary zoning policies. This isn’t because liberals have a stronger taste for segregation but because these cities experienced the largest increases to their Black populations in the wake of the Great Migration. In the North, especially, cities became more liberal when they gained more Black voters, which is why the liberalization of cities and the segregation of cities went hand in hand.” (P. 115)
  • “One study found that conservatives renters were in fact more likely to support a proposal for a 120-unit apartment building in their community than liberal homeowners. Perhaps we are not so polarized after all. Maybe above certain income level, we are all segregationists.” (P. 115)
  • “The progressive policies that well-off white liberals have tended to support have been those that pose no real threat to their affluence.” (P. 116)

In the chapter, “Invest in Ending Poverty,” Desmond identifies three ways that contribute to making the poor in America poorer: exploitation, prioritizing affluence over poverty alleviation, and creating prosperous yet exclusive communities.

The book concludes with actionable steps to reduce poverty, emphasizing the need for awareness, collect unpaid taxes, and promoting community integration. Desmond introduces the concept of Poverty Abolition, advocating for personal and political commitment to ending poverty through mindful consumer choices, supporting a restructured safety net, and opposing exploitation and hoarding of opportunities.

In summary, “Poverty by America” is a well-researched and insightful book that offers a deep perspective on the real problems regarding poverty in America. I highly recommend it and am definitely looking forward to reading Desmond’s other work, “Evicted”.

35 thoughts on “Book Review: Poverty, By America”

  2. I’ve heard of this title but knew nothing about the book. What is the author’s background? Thank you for reading and highlighting important passages from his book. Having done outreach with homeless and working mostly in Title 1 schools I have long been perplexed by this topic.

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      1. Thanks for that. I will click through. Although my reading time is at capacity right now, it is a topic I am interested in. My novel that I’ve been querying includes a disadvantaged character and the instability that engulfs a young life without resources.

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          1. Yes, that is it. If you are interested, thank you. You can find my novella by clicking on my Tumbleweedspirit logo. BTW this is not the novel, I just mentioned in my comment to your post. That one, a darker longer work, is not published yet. I am working on it. Thanks for asking.

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    1. I think people’s attitudes and unrealistic expectations are part of it. I think that we expect Americans to follow the traditional path to success, study, work hard, get married, have children, buy a house, etc. Then, there are Americans that for some reason or another, can’t follow that path and then part of our society looks down on them. Some people just need a little help. The U.S. is a great country and we are doing better than most countries, probably the reason why many people want to come. People like Matthew Desmond and other researchers are trying to identify gaps and figure out solutions. Just my humble opinion.

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  4. you did a great job reviewing this book Edward. Having a daughter as a single mom and science teacher I could relate to this:

    “Desmond advocates for investing in programs that assist single parents in balancing work and family life, such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and universal pre-K. He laments the increasing privatization of these services, limiting opportunities for single parents to pursue education or work full-time”.

    She’s lucky to have support of family and a community that offered a sweet deal for rent because they could in an area where they could get a lot more.

    Having family members that live on the street by choice of not wanting to work taints some of my feelings but we definitely have a problem and he raises good questions. ❣️

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    1. Thank you for your comments, Cindy. We certainly have a problem. Both the government and our community need to figure out how to differentiate between those genuinely in need and those exploiting the welfare system or unwilling to improve their situation. I believe the community’s proximity to the issue and familiarity with the individuals can be an asset. We need to find a way to connect our input to local/state/federal officials so they can provide social services to the needy. Providing childcare and adequate housing for single mothers is important so they can return to the workforce and improve their chances of success. Government and private entities should play a more proactive role in this area. The community can contribute by addressing other needs like food and transportation. This is a significant issue that requires a comprehensive community-based approach. I hate to say this but we, men, need to do better. Too many single mothers are struggling while fathers are nowhere to be found.

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      1. You’re so very welcome Edward. You are soooo right and they need to make some of the people accountable at the same time. I truly appreciate your words as there is a lot of meat and potatoes here and wisdom. I can hit the rails quickly when I see some misuses of the system when I see those that work hard and contribute so much. 💓

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  8. Are you an Amazon associate? I’m definitely interested in reading this, and I am saving the post so I can purchase. Nothing very surprising (I don’t think), however I would love to read more of the facts in his book. Poverty Abolition is a great idea.

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      1. You write a fair amount of book reviews so I’d think you’d be able to do something with the associate program. I’ve started reading more again. That is my goal for the new year (not resolution), to keep that up.

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          1. I am on Medium. Same name. Melissa Lemay. I’m still acclimating to the site. I began posting over the summer, but haven’t posted much. People keep following me so I guess it’s worth a shot to fund my coffee habit.😜

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