You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
afarre01's review
3.0
This book was a straightforward look at income and lifestyle differences in the US with stories from people of each class. I liked the personal anecdotes but I felt like it should have had either a deeper analysis or more interviews. I enjoyed reading it but I had hoped for something that was more insightful.
ewg109's review
5.0
This is a fascinating series of articles by the New York Times on class in America. From the differences between the nouveau riche and old money to differences in healthcare to getting out of welfare the articles are unflinching looks into our financial lives. Ironically, the book is already dated. The impending mortgage crisis and financial freefall is still far off on the horizon (a reference to Lehman Brothers evoked a surly guffaw). Nonetheless, the book has many insights and truths to share. Anyone interested in these issues must read this one.
choirqueer's review
4.0
This book provides a good introduction to class issues, offering the reader an entry point that focuses on stories of the lives of people from different class experiences in the USA. The essay that compares three heart attack survivors' access to health care based on their class status and how that affected their health outcomes was particularly powerful. I would like liked to see more attention given to the ways in which gender and race intersect with class; it seemed like the book almost went out of its way to avoid mentioning these topics.
Despite being somewhat dated at this point (it was originally published in 2005), there is a lot of relevant information in this book. I would definitely recommend it, but keep in mind that this is really just an introductory-level resource and that it only begins to scratch the surface of class issues in the USA.
Despite being somewhat dated at this point (it was originally published in 2005), there is a lot of relevant information in this book. I would definitely recommend it, but keep in mind that this is really just an introductory-level resource and that it only begins to scratch the surface of class issues in the USA.
kalake96's review
3.0
This was surprisingly interesting, for a school book. It's not something I would have chose on my own, but I didn't hate it. I loved that Alpharetta was in it! It was work, but it wasn't a chore to make it through every paragraph. Now for the essays...
milkyjammers's review
3.0
A good primer for the state of class in America. A mix of interesting case studies and statistics that spell out the range of classes in America that are not all given due consideration.
ckporier's review
3.0
Collection of stories from the New York Times on issues of class. An interesting and enlightening read, and easy to pick up for one or two essays so not a big time commitment.
zade's review
3.0
Although it is now several years out of date, the patterns described in this book still hold true and the human faces it puts on people of all classes remain an engaging reminder of how much people have in common, no matter where they fall on the class scale. It's not always pleasant reading--the inequities described make even this lower-middle-class reader uncomfortably aware of her privileges--and the statistical chapters can be dry even as they are informative--but the education is worth the time and effort.
I recommend this book for anyone who thinks America has achieved a classless society. It will also be of interest for readers of [a:Barbara Ehrenreich|1257|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1395953641p2/1257.jpg]'s [b:Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America|1869|Nickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting By in America|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442378091s/1869.jpg|1840613] and [b:Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream|24450|Bait and Switch The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442666785s/24450.jpg|2366544], and books like [b:Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America|21944886|Hand to Mouth Living in Bootstrap America|Linda Tirado|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408924415s/21944886.jpg|41248987] and [b:$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America|23719398|$2.00 a Day Living on Almost Nothing in America|Kathryn Edin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421139939s/23719398.jpg|43328922]. In fact, I recommend all of the above-mentioned books for anyone interested in the topic of class and for anyone who, like me, grew up securely positioned in the middle class or above.
I recommend this book for anyone who thinks America has achieved a classless society. It will also be of interest for readers of [a:Barbara Ehrenreich|1257|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1395953641p2/1257.jpg]'s [b:Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America|1869|Nickel and Dimed On (Not) Getting By in America|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442378091s/1869.jpg|1840613] and [b:Bait and Switch: The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream|24450|Bait and Switch The (Futile) Pursuit of the American Dream|Barbara Ehrenreich|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442666785s/24450.jpg|2366544], and books like [b:Hand to Mouth: Living in Bootstrap America|21944886|Hand to Mouth Living in Bootstrap America|Linda Tirado|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1408924415s/21944886.jpg|41248987] and [b:$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America|23719398|$2.00 a Day Living on Almost Nothing in America|Kathryn Edin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421139939s/23719398.jpg|43328922]. In fact, I recommend all of the above-mentioned books for anyone interested in the topic of class and for anyone who, like me, grew up securely positioned in the middle class or above.
More...