#9098
Mentioned in 5 episodes
Poverty, by America
Book • 2023
In 'Poverty, by America', Matthew Desmond uses history, research, and original reporting to expose how affluent Americans, both knowingly and unknowingly, contribute to the persistence of poverty.
The book details how corporate and governmental policies exploit the poor, driving down wages and forcing them to overpay for essential services like housing, cash, and credit.
Desmond argues that the root of poverty lies not in the behavior of poor people but in the systemic exploitation by the wealthy.
He also emphasizes the intersection of race and poverty, particularly affecting Black Americans, and calls for readers to become 'poverty abolitionists' to build a more economically just society.
The book details how corporate and governmental policies exploit the poor, driving down wages and forcing them to overpay for essential services like housing, cash, and credit.
Desmond argues that the root of poverty lies not in the behavior of poor people but in the systemic exploitation by the wealthy.
He also emphasizes the intersection of race and poverty, particularly affecting Black Americans, and calls for readers to become 'poverty abolitionists' to build a more economically just society.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 5 episodes
Mentioned by Claire as a book that explores inequity and pay.
30 snips
On Bailouts, Being "Too Big to Fail," and Little Luxuries
Mentioned by Sean Illing as Matt Desmond's latest book, focusing on the causes and solutions to poverty in America.
19 snips
Why the poor in America stay poor
Mentioned by Arvid Lukauskas as an example of a book using synthetic narratives to capture lived experiences.
Arvid J. Lukauskas and Yumiko Shimabukuro, "Misery Beneath the Miracle in East Asia" (Cornell UP, 2024)
Mentioned by Sharon McMahon as a thought-provoking book that covers the topic of poverty in America.
Poverty In America with Matthew Desmond
