Poorly Understood

Poor Understood: What America Gets Wrong about Poverty attempts and, in many ways, succeeds at being the magnum opus of introductions to modern American poverty studies. In a well-written, straightforward, and data-forward approach, Mark Robert Rank, Lawrence M. Eppard, and Heather E. Bullock manage to synthesize decades of poverty research toward relinquishing several of America's most coveted myths about social stratification. * Contemporary Sociology *
Every social worker and social work student who still believes that poverty is a choice should read this book because, as the authors explain so clearly, almost all of us will be among the poor at some point in our lives. The poor are not the Other; they are Us. * The New Social Worker *
Perhaps most important all, Poorly Understood teases out the misconception that poverty is not a racial problem or a regional problem but an American problem, giving labor and social activists a launching pad from which to delve into a deeper conversation with those standing on the sidelines and stress the urgency of the matter when it comes poverty in America. * Journal of Working-Class Studies *
Most useful is their call to action around awareness, myth-busting, and moving forward as a society with a clear lens on what people should do next to fight poverty. * L. T. Grover, CHOICE *
Read now, this account of the factors inhibiting change makes the trillion dollars spent on pandemic-era aid all the more astonishing ... Poorly Understood makes a persuasive case that the risks of falling into poverty are greater than commonly recognized ... the authors are right that poverty is more common than American "myths, stereotypes, and misperceptions" suggest. * Jason DeParle, New York Review of Books *
A clear, perhaps even elementary text, about the truth about poverty that debunks common beliefs. The authors clarify the truth about poverty and how better wages could make a big difference. * Jane Henderson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch *
The St Louis Post-Dispatch listed Poorly Understood as one of their 20 favourite new books in 2021. * St. Louis Post-Dispatch *
I have often wished for a simple, accessible book that could set the record straight — something not too jargon-laden, not too academic and not too preachy, the kind of book you could hand to a cynical street cop, your neighbor or your Uncle Fred, and expect that it might actually be read. In "Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong About Poverty," Mark Robert Rank, Lawrence M. Eppard and Heather E. Bullock have produced just such a book, setting out to systematically catalogue and debunk the most widely believed myths about poverty and the poor..." * Rosa Brooks, Georgetown , The Washington Post *
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Poorly Understood dispels the myths that have prevented us from addressing our nation's shameful disparities in wealth and income. It should be required reading for every member of Congress. At least the ones that read. * Al Franken, Media personality, author, and former Minnesota U.S. Senator *
In clear and cogent prose backed up by solid evidence, Poorly Understood explodes the myths about poverty in 21st century America. It is not rare. It is not something that happens only to 'other people.' And the usual bromides about escaping it through hard work, education, and upward mobility no longer hold water. Poverty is more prevalent and deeper than in other industrial nations, and anyone who wants a clear-eyed analysis of why poverty persists and how it can be overcome needs to read this book. * Douglas S. Massey, Princeton University Professor of Sociology and Past President of both the American Sociological Association and the Population Association of America *
This book is more than a data-driven academic exercise. Mark Rank and his co-authors are clear that there are solutions. Reading, I was reminded of my time as an organizer for welfare rights when we chanted 'Adequate Income Now!' and 'Mas Dinero Ahora!' Their final argument is the need to organize to make the change. It has certainly been my life's work, and I hope there are many that heed their call! * Wade Rathke, Founder of ACORN International *
Poorly Understood presents essential evidence that will make it much harder for people to ignore poverty as it actually is, rather than as they think or hope it is. If truth matters, this book should have a powerful impact on the politics and policy of a crucially important issue. * Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University Professor of Government and Former President of the American Political Science Association *
The American dream is that if you work hard you will get what you deserve. No book lays this myth to rest more clearly and persuasively than Poorly Understood. Sixty percent of Americans will live below the official poverty line for at least one year of their lives, one of dozens of points that will make you rethink poverty in America. And Americans must rethink poverty. * Jeff Madrick, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation and author of Invisible Americans: The Tragedy of Child Poverty *
Why do we have so much poverty in America? Mark Rank and his colleagues tell us why. Read their book and you'll know the answer. * Peter Edelman, Georgetown University Professor of Law and former Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation *