Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond Summary
Overview of Poverty, by America
In "Poverty, by America," sociologist Matthew Desmond exposes how the wealthy perpetuate poverty through exploitation. Praised by The New Yorker as "urgent and accessible," this provocative 2023 bestseller challenges readers: Are your everyday choices unknowingly keeping millions poor? Become a "poverty abolitionist" and rewrite America's economic story.
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Key takeaways
America's Poverty Paradox: A Nation of Abundance and Scarcity
In the wealthiest nation on earth, 11 million children still go to bed hungry. This isn't a failure of resources-America has enough wealth to end poverty tomorrow. Rather, it's a deliberate economic design that benefits the affluent while extracting billions from the poor. Imagine walking through a grocery store where 40% of food will be thrown away, then passing a family who can't afford dinner. This jarring contradiction defines American poverty: not a lack of resources, but a failure of distribution. What makes this reality so perplexing is how poverty persists alongside such abundance. Unlike global absolute poverty, American poverty exists within arm's reach of plenty. Vacant properties often outnumber homeless individuals in major cities. The gap between our productive capacity and the lived reality of our poorest citizens highlights how poverty is maintained through policy choices, from tax structures to housing policies to wage suppression. The intergenerational transmission of disadvantage is equally striking-children born into the bottom income quintile have only a 7.5% chance of reaching the top, while those born wealthy have a 40% chance of staying there. This isn't just bad luck; it's a system working exactly as designed.
The Poverty Machine: How We Keep the Poor Poor
The Decline of Worker Power: How Labor Lost Its Voice
The Hidden Welfare State: How the Rich Get Richer
The Poverty Premium: Why Being Poor Costs More
Breaking the Cycle: Solutions That Actually Work
From Scarcity to Abundance: Reimagining a Nation Without Poverty
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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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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