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imageeknc's review against another edition
5.0
Stories of real people provide authentic examples of housing insecurity. The lack of resources for income, food, childcare, legal representation coupled with a lack of practical political initiatives leaves the vulnerable more likely to be victims and expendable by those who profit by keeping poor people poor. The book concludes with comments sense, effective solutions. I hope many will read this book and choose to take action.
teagan821's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written, sharp and well-done. Even before diving into the content of this book, I am beyond impressed by the quality of research and how wholly dedicated Desmond was to this endeavor. While it was definitely an eyewitness account, he never let the "I" pervade or distract from the narrative, and he told it without pity or excuses. I especially loved the policy ideas at the end as it is extremely frustrating to read a piece of compelling non-fiction only for it to end with "oh well," or a "who's to say..." I certainly learned a lot and was equally shocked that there lacks so much research and attention on the topic of housing, or lack of stable housing, in the United States.
kimabill's review against another edition
5.0
I agree with everything Rachel wrote in her review. This book is incredibly moving and incredibly depressing. It provided so much insight into a world I know nothing about, and it made me feel sad and angry and hopeless. The author followed several families and individuals, both on the tenant side and the landlord side as they went through the eviction process, sometimes several times. The stories are told in a narrative way, and the author doesn't inject any of his own opinions as he is telling their stories. In fact, he is completely invisible. It turns out that this is an incredibly effective technique. It made the stories so stark and real, leaving out any opinion or commentary. It made it so the story was about the people it was actually happening to, and not about how the author felt about it. And this stylistic choice made the epilogue SO much more powerful because it felt so completely earned. The epilogue is where the author presents his argument for what should be done about the eviction crisis, and after reading all of those stories, everything he argued made so much sense and felt so right and necessary and important. I found myself alternately crying and wanting to stand up and cheer. It is really incredible.
Although many of the footnotes in this book are just references to other articles or books, they are worth glancing at because in some of them he adds some really valuable commentary - like in the one where he talks about how many politicians want to eliminate some governmental social programs because they feel that churches and community groups should be the ones to help people struggling in poverty. He argues how in many cases, (and supported by the stories he tells about tenants living in poverty) churches are unable and even unwilling to provide the kind of help that people really need. (I wish I could quote what he actually says, because it is really powerful, but the library took back my e-book!)
I can't stop thinking about this book, and I think it is one that everyone should read, especially those in government who are making policy and budget decisions related to housing issues.
Although many of the footnotes in this book are just references to other articles or books, they are worth glancing at because in some of them he adds some really valuable commentary - like in the one where he talks about how many politicians want to eliminate some governmental social programs because they feel that churches and community groups should be the ones to help people struggling in poverty. He argues how in many cases, (and supported by the stories he tells about tenants living in poverty) churches are unable and even unwilling to provide the kind of help that people really need. (I wish I could quote what he actually says, because it is really powerful, but the library took back my e-book!)
I can't stop thinking about this book, and I think it is one that everyone should read, especially those in government who are making policy and budget decisions related to housing issues.
javenswanson's review against another edition
5.0
A really important analysis of the dynamics of poverty and capitalism.
rosalieshyu's review against another edition
3.0
Incredible research in which Desmond lives among those he writes about. Pretty heartbreaking and left with a desire to make something happen. Feeling a bit powerless, but glad this book fills a void in research surrounding evictions.
ohlizzy's review against another edition
5.0
I was struck by the deep compassion Matthew Desmond has for the subjects of his book. Deftly written. Disturbing and insightful.
jlib's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like I understand the difficulties facing people who are struggling with finding and keeping a consistent place to live much better. Stable housing has a waterfall effect on every other aspect of life. When people ask "how do we attack the problem of poverty - it's so overwhelming" this book may offer a starting point from which all other problems can start to resolve themselves. The personal stories of real people and how housing affected their lives over the long-term was incredible, especially children. The stories of the landlords and their laser-focus on profit and how they exploit the impoverished was very enlightening. How laws in cities are so much in favor of these slumlords and how nuisance laws encourage tenants to keep quiet about problems of violence, and how calling the building inspector actually creates more evictions instead of protecting the tenant was also very eye-opening. I read this on audiobook and the reader, Dion Graham, was absolutely excellent.
drwarrennj's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most important books that sheds light on America’s crippling poverty. Desmond, a sociologist, tells a beautiful story about Milwaukee’s urban poor by focusing on the stories of real people as they struggle with evictions.