An intimate portrait of poverty-level working families from a range of ethnic backgrounds in America reveals their legacy of low-paying, dead-end jobs, dysfunctional parenting, and substance abuse and charges the government with failing to provide adequate housing, health care, and education.
"This is clearly one of those seminal books that every American should read and read now." The New York Times Book Review
" An essential book.... It should be required reading not just for every member of Congress, but for every eligible voter." The Washington Post Book World
Sensitive, sometimes heart-rending ... A vivid portrait of the struggle of the working poor to acquire steady, decently paid employment. Commentary
"Insightful and moving.... Shipler writes with enormous grace [and] he captures the immense frustration endured by the working poor as few others have." The Nation
"Welcome and important.... Shipler manages to see all aspects of poverty psychological, personal, societal and examine how they're related.... There is much here to ponder for conservatives and liberals alike." The Seattle Times
" An essential book.... It should be required reading not just for every member of Congress, but for every eligible voter." The Washington Post Book World
Sensitive, sometimes heart-rending ... A vivid portrait of the struggle of the working poor to acquire steady, decently paid employment. Commentary
"Insightful and moving.... Shipler writes with enormous grace [and] he captures the immense frustration endured by the working poor as few others have." The Nation
"Welcome and important.... Shipler manages to see all aspects of poverty psychological, personal, societal and examine how they're related.... There is much here to ponder for conservatives and liberals alike." The Seattle Times