Poverty, by America

Pulitzer Prize winner Desmond (Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City) explores why there is still poverty in the United States. How can this be the wealthiest country on earth but still have more poverty than any other advanced democracy? Thoughtful and compassionate, this searing indictment of the public and private systems that foster poverty, from low-paying jobs without the benefit of union support to runaway housing and healthcare costs. In all situations, these systems benefit the rich at the expense of the poor. Addressing myths and misunderstandings about poverty, the book also provides many suggestions for ending it. His call is for all to become “poverty abolitionists…refusing to live as unwitting enemies of the poor.” Is it possible to convince people to give something up to benefit others? Perhaps a hard sell. Dion Graham does a masterful job narrating, bringing heft and significance to this important topic. His narratorial talents extend to facts and statistics, which are relayed with compelling gravity.