Picked this one because I am a huge fan of the author's earlier "Unbending Gender", which I have recommended many times. But, it's been a while since I read her earlier work and am now reminded of how data-driven her work is. On the one hand, I appreciate how she supports her work with data, but on the other hand, it makes the reading a bit heavy and academic. Unlike her earlier work, this one is not organized in a way that I found as compelling.

Outclassed: How the Left Lost the Working Class and How to Win Them Back

Pub date: May 20, 2025

This academic book explores the growing political divide in America—and how the Left has steadily lost working-class voters. Williams highlights that in 1996, 59% of non-college whites identified as Democrats; today, only about a quarter do. She argues that globalization gutted middle-class prospects, and that many lower-middle-class voters see themselves as “pre-rich,” not as workers—fueling votes that seem misaligned with their economic interests.
A key takeaway: MAGA appeals to those who feel both parties have failed to address the collapse of the American middle class. Economic opportunity is now highly concentrated in a few cities, unlike in past decades when places like Pittsburgh and North Carolina thrived.
Williams calls for a bold rural platform focused on better jobs, higher wages, and regional investment. To win back these voters, the Left must show respect—and fight inequality between regions, not just individuals.
It’s dense but thought-provoking and packed with data. Highly recommend for the right reader!
Thank you to the author Joan C. Williams, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of OUTCLASSED.

Honestly I was surprised to see the heavily negative reviews for this book when I finished because I very much liked it. I have already used information I have learned from this in conversations I've had about politics and why we are where we're at today. I already inherently agreed with Williams' thesis that Democrats need to get back to representing the people and not just academic elites, so I guess that could have biased me. This book is also severely information heavy - I enjoyed that, myself. I think this book was, honestly, written for people who are actually working in politics, rather than the average reader.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pre-Read notes

I read a lot about social issues, but not often about class. I am.looking forward to gaining some perspective of this issue from reading Outclassed. Initial impressions: I'm interested in what is being said, and it's just as political as I suppose it must be.

Final Review

"People can’t get or stay married because it takes so much effort to survive. My ex-fiancée said, “You’re never around.” But I was working to get a better life for us. No one has time for their kids. It’s the American Nightmare." p81

Review summary and recommendations

I think this book was an ambitious project for Joan C. Williams, and an important one. I took several issues with her execution of her concept, but I still think this one offers value to readers who are already fluent in the subject. She presents a great deal of data, like statistics, but she tending to sort of stack these facts down the page without much discussion of how they relate to each other, or her larger point.

I recommend this book to readers who are interested in human rights and class differences. For another great read on human rights, try Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You, and for a great book on class, try Caste.

Reading Notes

Two things I loved:

1. "“The reason voters don’t vote based on economics is that they absolutely don’t believe that either Democrats or Republicans will ever deliver for them,” pollster David Mermin remarked to me in 2023." p19 This is the only explanation for this phenomena that I've heard that makes sense. Why do voters always vote against their interests? Because they don't trust the system itself.

2. I like the recaps at the end of each chapter, both in content and structure.


Three quibbles:

(This section isn't only for criticisms. It's also for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.)

1. Lots of stats and data in this one, which can either slow down the pace or de-center the author's thesis. In this case it's not always clear how the author is using the material she is quoting or paraphrasing. *edit This data is so fascinating, I really wish it was tied together and all the way through the book.

2. She sort of writes for an academic audience, which makes sense, but she's purportedly writing for a popular audience. And I don't think she's going to get them with the way she approaches the data. It's a little cold-blooded: "Political scientists find that people with higher levels of education tend to have more consistent policy views and that policy influences their votes more than those with lower levels of education. So if you want to send the message that you only care about the one-third of Americans with college degrees, definitely keep talking on and on about policy." p220

3. "These approaches all had one feature in common: they use psychology to [make it] unnecessary for liberals to take conservative ideas seriously because these ideas are caused by bad childhoods or ugly personality traits. I [have] suggested a very different approach : start by assuming that conservatives are just as sincere as liberals." p252 I assure Ms. Williams and anyone else who might be wondering that mentally disabled people are still very capable of sincerity about their personal politics. So if we are brushed aside in any way *because* of our mental health, that is some ableist 💩 [poo] right there.

Rating: 💰💰💰 /5 money bags
Recommend? yes, for the right reader
Finished: Apr 4 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
📰 nonfiction
📊 statistics and facts
🤝 books about human rights

Thank you to the author Joan C. Williams, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible advance digital copy of OUTCLASSED. All views are mine.
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Outclassed is a smart, timely read that unpacks the growing divide between college-educated and non-college-educated Americans—and how that rift fuels political polarization. Joan C. Williams offers a compelling case for how progressives can better connect across class lines without compromising values.

Through sharp insights and real-world examples, Williams explores how cultural misunderstandings and privilege shape political messaging—and how the far right exploits those gaps. It’s both a critique and a call to action, with practical ideas for building a stronger, more inclusive movement.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Outclassed: How The Left Lost The Working Class And How To Win Them Back, by Joan C. Williams.

This book will be released on May 20, 2025.

This book is filled with attempts at arguments on how the left could win back the working class. However, I did not find this author to be very powerful or persuasive in her arguments. The book also was not that interesting and it was often a chore to keep going on to the next chapter. Unfortunately, this one had the feel of a series of boring college lectures.

I give this book a C.

Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, a C equates to 2 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

I finished reading this on January 14, 2025.