Evicted by Matthew Desmond Summary
Overview of Evicted
Pulitzer Prize-winning "Evicted" exposes America's hidden housing crisis, where poverty and profit collide. Bill Gates praised Desmond's transformation of data into unforgettable stories that changed housing policy nationwide and inspired Princeton's groundbreaking Eviction Lab, revealing the shocking truth - eviction causes poverty, not just results from it.
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Key takeaways
The Day Everything Ends Up on the Sidewalk
A sheriff's deputy knocks at 1:00 PM. By 1:30, your children's toys, your grandmother's photos, your winter coats-everything you own-sits in a heap on the curb. Neighbors glance over, then quickly look away. This isn't a scene from a disaster movie. It's Tuesday afternoon in Milwaukee, where sixteen families lose their homes every single day through formal eviction proceedings. Thousands more are forced out through informal pressure that leaves no paper trail. What was once shocking enough to draw crowds of angry protesters now barely registers as newsworthy. Eviction has become so routine in America's poorest neighborhoods that it's practically invisible-yet it's quietly destroying lives, shattering families, and perpetuating cycles of poverty that trap generations. This is the hidden crisis that Matthew Desmond spent years documenting, living alongside both landlords and tenants to understand how losing your home has transformed from a rare catastrophe into an ordinary fact of life for millions of Americans.
Profiting from Desperation
When Eviction Becomes Normal
Lives in Perpetual Freefall
The Geography of Trapped Opportunity
When Every Safety Net Has Holes
A Different Future Is Possible
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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