Book Review: The Forgotten Americans

For the past 20 months or so, I have read several books focused on the subject of marginalized citizens. This interest partly comes from my desire to understand how social scientists, political theorists, and historians perceive our current problems and the solutions they propose. Books such as Poverty, By America, Evicted, There Is Nothing for You Here, and most recently, Of Boys and Men, have been incredibly illuminating. They highlight the disconnect between politicians and government officials and the very people who elect them. While citizens voice their concerns, politicians often fail to listen. As evidenced in recent elections, this desperation drives citizens toward leaders who claim to hear them—whether or not those leaders genuinely intend to address their concerns.

Today, I’m writing about the book The Forgotten Americans: An Economic Agenda for a Divided Nation by Isabel Sawhill.

At the outset, the author presents the key issue and introduces what she calls “the success sequence.”

  • The key issue: “The working and middle classes have received less. All of them are part of a group I call ‘the forgotten Americans.’” (p. viii)
  • The success sequence: “We developed and have jointly written about the ‘success sequence’—the idea that if you get an education, work full time, and wait to have children until you are married or in a committed relationship, you will have a good chance of escaping poverty and joining the middle class.” (p. viii)

I find the “success sequence” overly simplistic and prescriptive. It assumes circumstances that don’t align with today’s realities. While this formula may work in some cases, there are alternative paths to financial stability and success. For instance, a single person can often achieve the same—or even greater—success faster. I’m not advocating for singleness; I’m simply stating that success comes in many forms.

Even with its flaws, the book offers valuable insights. Sawhill’s proposed solutions, such as job creation, private sector involvement, and updated social support systems, are compelling. She summarizes them on page 6:

  1. More vocational education and adjustment assistance for workers displaced by technological and trade changes, including opportunities to retrain or relocate.
  2. A broad-based tax credit to boost wages for those working hard but earning inadequate incomes.
  3. A new role for the private sector in training and rewarding workers.
  4. A reformed social insurance system focused on lifelong education and family care alongside retirement.

Chapter Summaries and Highlights

Chapter 1: Introduction
Sawhill sets the stage by revisiting Ronald Reagan’s 1976 campaign and Bill Clinton’s welfare reforms.

  • “When Ronald Reagan was campaigning for the presidency in the 1970s, he regularly referred to a Chicago welfare recipient who, Reagan said, had bilked the government out of $150,000. ‘She has 80 names, 30 addresses, 12 Social Security cards, and is collecting veterans’ benefits on four nonexistent deceased husbands,’ he said. Although fact-checking showed Reagan was exaggerating, the story resonated with the public. Thus, the idea of a ‘welfare queen’ was born.” (p. 1)
  • “Bill Clinton, although far more sympathetic to the poor than Ronald Reagan, campaigned on ‘ending welfare as we know it.’” (p. 1)
  • Sawhill defines “Forgotten Americans” as working-age adults (25-64) without four-year college degrees, whose family incomes fall in the bottom half of the income distribution—below $70,000 annually. This group comprises 38% of the working-age population. (p. 3)
  • “Because government hasn’t addressed the problems they see every day—lack of jobs, crumbling infrastructure, inadequate schools, an opioid epidemic—they have lost faith in it.” (p. 4)
  • “The social contract is based on the idea that government can deliver what people need to succeed.” (p. 4)

Chapter 2: The Forgotten Americans. 

This chapter discusses the reasons the working class voted as they did in 2016 (and, I would argue, for the same reasons they voted as they did in 2024).

  • “As Guy Molyneux argues, there are two kinds of populism: Bernie Sanders’ economic populism and Donald Trump’s political populism. The former is anti-Wall Street and corporate greed; the latter is anti-Washington and political greed. Molyneux persuasively argues that the latter put Trump in the White House.” (p. 12)
  • “Democrats need bolder economic policies that work for average Americans, not just the rich, big corporations, and cultural elites.” (p. 13)
  • The white working class overwhelmingly feels the economic system is unfair. Many favor higher taxes on incomes over $250,000, increased infrastructure and education spending, and expanding broadband access. (p. 23, 31)
  • “Neglecting the white working class would be a mistake. If they continue gravitating toward candidates like Trump, the consequences for the poor and minorities will be devastating.” (p. 34)

Chapter 3: What Went Wrong?

Sawhill explores the economic and educational factors contributing to current discontent.

  • “Among children born in 1940, 90% earned higher incomes than their parents by age 30. For those born in 1980, only 50% are doing better than their parents.” (p. 45-46)
  • Income inequality has widened significantly. Between 1979 and 2013, the bottom 60% saw their income share drop from 28% to 22%. (p. 51-52)
  • Automation has led to significant job losses, with robots replacing up to 670,000 manufacturing jobs between 1990 and 2007. (p. 57)
  • “The success sequence…plummets a person’s chances of being poor from 14% to 2% if they graduate high school, work full time, and marry before having children.” (p. 66)

Chapters 4-8

These chapters address redistribution, social programs, and the potential for private-sector involvement. Notable points include:

  • The need for a “GI Bill for American Workers” to provide skills training aligned with job market demands. (p. 115-117). Note: The G.I. Bill, formally the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, was a law that provided a range of benefits for some of the returning World War II veterans (commonly referred to as G.I.s). The original G.I. Bill expired in 1956, but the term “G.I. Bill” is still used to refer to programs created to assist American military veterans.1
  • Expanding child care subsidies to alleviate one of the largest expenses for working families. (p. 137)
  • Encouraging profit-sharing and employee ownership as bipartisan strategies to reduce inequality. (p. 153)

Chapter 9: Updating Social Insurance

This chapter addresses the need for modernizing social insurance systems to better serve contemporary societal needs. 

  • The author argues that people struggle to plan for future contingencies due to shortsightedness and highlights how rising inequality has created a relentless cycle of consumption. (p. 160-165)
  • The chapter also notes a significant social change: the proportion of children living with only one parent has risen dramatically since 1960 from just under 10 percent to over 27 percent in 2016. (p. 169)
  • Social insurance, as envisioned for the 21st century, would remain contributory and tied to work experience, funded by payroll taxes. The proposal includes two new trust funds: one for lifelong learning to support education and training and another for paid family and medical leave. (p. 174)
  • While taxes are never popular, payroll taxes are more accepted because they are directly linked to specific benefits. (p. 178)

Chapter 10: Conclusion

In the conclusion, Sawhill argues that the U.S. must move beyond ideological battles and adopt practical policies that address inequality and restore faith in government. The key lies in emphasizing the importance of family, education, and work. (P. 183)

Overall, the book was a good read, and it highlights the need for politicians to listen to the people, develop ideas for solving problems, and, when elected, actually work toward fulfilling those needs. Compromise is required not just between the two political parties in the U.S., but also among citizens, because no one is going to get 100 percent of what they want.

About the Author:2

Isabel V. Sawhill is a senior fellow emeritus in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Sawhill’s research spans a wide array of economic and social issues, including fiscal policy, economic growth, poverty, social mobility, and inequality. She served as vice president and director of the Economic Studies program from 2003 to 2006, and as co-director of the Center on Children and Families from 2006 to 2015. Prior to joining Brookings, Dr. Sawhill was a senior fellow at The Urban Institute. She served in the Clinton Administration as an Associate Director of OMB, where her responsibilities included all of the human resource programs of the federal government, accounting for one third of the federal budget. Dr. Sawhill has been a Visiting Professor at Georgetown Law School, Director of the National Commission for Employment Policy, and President of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. She also serves on a number of boards. She attended Wellesley College and received her Ph.D. from New York University.

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G.I._Bill ↩︎
  2. https://www.brookings.edu/people/isabel-v-sawhill/ ↩︎

61 thoughts on “Book Review: The Forgotten Americans”

  1. An interesting topic shared. When analyst associated with Brookings shares a piece I tend to pay attention. It’s perhaps a good insight into what will perhaps be shaping government policy for the next 10-15 years.
    Thanks for sharing the review, Edward.

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    1. Thank you, Nigel. You are right about the valuable insights that could shape government policy, if and only if the government is willing to listen to experts and the people and implement sensible policies.

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    1. You’re welcome, Cindy. President Reagan was an interesting politician and, along with Margaret Thatcher, did a lot to push for democratic ideals, especially with regard to the former USSR and the Cold War.

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  4. What a great book review about such an important topic. Thank you, Edward.

    This puzzled me, ““The success sequence…plummets a person’s chances of being poor from 14% to 2% if they graduate high school, work full time, and marry before having children.” If they graduate high school, work full time and getting married – they have a lower chance of being poor. Is that a correct reading?

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    1. Thank you so much, Mary. I do my best to maintain a balance and provide enough information to highlight the quality of the books. As you said, the authors spend a great amount of time researching, writing, and publishing these books, so I want to be fair. I hate seeing reviews on Amazon or Goodreads that say, “The worst book ever, don’t buy it,” without explaining the reasons.

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  8. Your critique of the “success sequence” is particularly insightful, as it highlights the nuanced realities that many face in achieving financial stability today. I appreciate how you balanced constructive criticism with praise for the book’s actionable policy proposals, such as vocational education and modernized social insurance. Your summary of each chapter is comprehensive and engaging, making this review an excellent resource for those curious about the book’s content. Thank you for sharing your perspective—it’s inspired me to add this to my reading list!

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  9. Thank you, Edward, for another excellent book review. This book really touches the wounds of contemporary society (not only in the USA)—the people who pay with their lives, literally, for the neglect of the system. A system that lacks truly caring leaders. I loved when you said, “While citizens voice their concerns, politicians often fail to listen.” This seems to be key in bringing about the practical change that benefits all. Truly caring people, especially those in leadership positions, are what society needs the most right at this time. I appreciate your sharings, my friend; it keeps me selectively informed, and that is priceless! Sending you lots of light and blessings; have a peaceful day*

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    1. You’re very welcome, Susana, and I truly appreciate your comments. It seems that some of these issues are affecting parts of Europe as well. I’ve been reading about the situations in France, Germany, and now Spain, where people are growing increasingly tired of politicians not addressing their concerns. It’s truly sad because we don’t want to return to the old ways. Blessings to you, and have a great and peaceful day, my friend.

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  11. Like I previously wrote, Edward for office! I appreciate your commitment to staying informed and the important societal topics you choose to read and summarize. Thank you. I agree with your interpretation of the “success sequence.” I see its merits, though it also presents as a philosophy and way of living that is not a one size fits all.

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  12. Another excellent book review. Thank you, Edward. So many intelligent, caring individuals with worthy ideas for really helping people (besides CEOs). If only politics would get back to working towards helping the people instead of playing games involving one-upmanship, keeping power, and making/attracting money.

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    1. Thank you very much, Jane. I hope we can return to some level of normalcy one day, where politicians will at least make an attempt to help people. My guess is that in the U.S., it will take at least two election cycles to get the toxicity out of their system.

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    2. I think if we stopped gerrymandering districts we wouldn’t need term limits. Allowing members of Congress to develop experience can be a good thing. On the other hand, Thomas Paine was in favor of term limits so politicians would always know eventually they’d become a regular citizen again, and I’ve read that several members of the Senate are even more doddering than President Biden, who at least still has good days.

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  14. I was raised by republicans and back as far as Nixon, they really don’t care about helping poor people. They have no problem using them and stoking their grievances … but as long as they fundamentally don’t care this country is going to be a mess. The last thing my father said to me before he died was “republicans aren’t really nice people.”

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    1. Well… there are still a few good and decent Republican politicians out there. I think sometimes they focus too much on capitalism. But the same goes for some Democratic politicians. Money and power are distorting their reality a bit, and that’s part of the mess we have right now. There’s zero collaboration in Washington. There are plenty of regular people from both parties that are good, hardworking individuals trying their best to contribute to society, but misinformation is winning the day.

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        1. I would say some people, but definitely not all, are poor due to laziness. I know a few myself. We need to look at each person’s circumstances before labeling all poor people as lazy. There are men taking advantage of women, leaving them with kids to care for on their own and without support. There are rich people and institutions exploiting workers by requiring them to work extremely long hours for less than minimum wage. There are disabled people who are struggling—and the list goes on and on. I have empathy and prefer to assess the particular issues affecting the poor and some in the middle class. You probably know that there are many rich people living off their parents’ wealth without making a meaningful contribution to society. Some might label them lazy, but I blame the parents for not pushing them to earn their own money.

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  16. Was about to get off reader and your title caught my eye.. laughed when I saw who wrote it.. Edward.. the deep thinker.. of course!
    Most of my adult life I have found myself somewhere between conservative and liberal camps depending… this year I was one of those odious Latinos who did indeed vote for Trump.. honestly.. I felt like the left made me do it… during the campaign I was personally informed that if I voted Trump I would be sent back to Mexico .. since then.. the same left who thought they had my vote.. have stated on numerous occasions that they hope all of us are deported.. truly.. these people have helped me to stand where I do now.

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    1. Kimberly, thank you for reading and commenting. I’m an independent voter, and I vote for different people and parties based on their platforms and how their initiatives are likely to help the people in this country. I fully understand that politicians won’t accomplish 80% of their platforms because the political machine is very strong and resilient.

      What I find interesting is that so many scholars are conducting research and publishing their findings, yet some politicians aren’t listening to the people or to what these experts are saying. This creates frustration among voters, and it’s reflected in the way they vote.

      By the way, there’s no way the federal government is going to deport 11 million people. The U.S. government isn’t that efficient—they can’t even pass a simple budget or select a Speaker of the House in an orderly fashion! So, I’m not too worried about it. The government might close the border, deport people who crossed in the past year or so, and impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada to try to stop the flow but that’s about it. The dynamics in this country and around the world will keep the administration so busy that they won’t have time to figure out how to deport millions of people. Additionally, the countries of origin need to accept those deportees, and that is unlikely to happen.

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      1. It’s my understanding that our soon to be President has actually bankrupted the vast majority of his business efforts. Certainly his most recent public offering was doing dismally last time I checked, though that may have changed since the election. Our stock market seems presently already to be showing signs of awareness of these facts.

        It’s hard to overestimate the stimulus to the American people in the littlest change to their pocketbooks. A candidate who has promised cheaper prices ~ and run on a platform of encouraging civil dissent ~ may well be finding himself on the receiving end of same.

        If you ask me ~ and glance at this week’s California power outage maps ~ he may well be looking at it right damn now.

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        1. You know, the stock market isn’t too bad right now, but of course, we have to wait until January 20 and that first trading week to see how it’s going to react. Trump, Robert Kiyosaki (author of Rich Dad Poor Dad), and similar millionaires use the same scheme: bank loans and other people’s money for real estate and other businesses. If the business goes bad, then that particular company goes bankrupt, and they move on to the next business. It goes on and on. I blame the banks for giving them the money and falling for their schemes and of course all the loopholes in our tax code.

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    2. It is unfortunate and ironic that the “left” politicians caved on immigration to the “right” just to get a bill signed only to have Trump order “right” politicians to vote against it so Biden couldn’t claim a victory. My brother and I were arguing over Thanksgiving whether the populist right or economic elites will have control over our immigration policy next year, and I’m already seeing their struggle over policy in the news, with donors saying they need immigrants for work and the voter base crying foul.

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