57 pages 1 hour read

Matthew Desmond

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond follows poor renters and wealthy landlords in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, illustrating how eviction perpetuates poverty and inequality. The book details the harsh realities faced by diverse tenants, highlighting systemic failures and proposing solutions for housing stability and justice. Topics of domestic violence, substance abuse, and racial discrimination are addressed.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Matthew Desmond’s Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City is lauded for its compelling narrative and detailed ethnographic research on urban poverty and housing instability. Readers praise its empathetic portrayal of tenants and landlords but note the book’s heavy emotional weight and occasional lack of actionable solutions. Recommended for its impactful insight, despite minor criticisms.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City?

Readers interested in Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond are often those who appreciate in-depth social analysis and are concerned with urban poverty issues. Fans of Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed or Alex Kotlowitz’s There Are No Children Here will find this work equally compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Sociology

Social Justice

Poverty

Themes

Relationships: Family

Society: Community