Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 448 pages
Audiobook Length: 11 hours and 3 minutes
First Published: 2016
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Rachael’s Review
Harvard sociologist Matthew Desmond tells the true stories of eight families from the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee. All of these families are barely scraping by, having had to spend almost all of their earnings on rent alone. Each frequently faces eviction and an unknown future, causing a cycle with far-reaching consequences that is nearly impossible to break. Based on years of fieldwork, Evicted is a piercing examination of extreme poverty and eviction in America today.
Publisher’s Description
In Evicted, Princeton sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” Matthew Desmond follows eight families in Milwaukee as they each struggle to keep a roof over their heads. Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America’s most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.
Quotes from Evicted
It is hard to argue that housing is not a fundamental human need. Decent, affordable housing should be a basic right for everybody in this country. The reason is simple: without stable shelter, everything else falls apart.
If poverty persists in America, it is not for lack of resources.
Eviction is a cause, not just a condition, of poverty.
By and large, the poor do not want some small life. They don’t want to game the system or eke out an existence; they want to thrive and contribute.
About Matthew Desmond
Matthew Desmond is a professor of sociology at Princeton University. He is the author of four books including Evicted.
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