Broke in America

This book is so different from other poverty finance books out there. I have read my fair share of them, and this book is far and away better. At the end of each chapter the authors describe actionable steps that an average person can take to help the poor, those in poverty, and those that are struggling.
I loved that. It really made me start to think about ways in which I could do something in my community.
I love the research and the time and the care that went into this book.
Its well researched and has a great flow.
One of the best books on poverty and finance that I have read in a long time.

I know, I know. This is just another book about inequality and brokenness in America, right? Wrong. Yes, we do see recurring themes and points as in other books like American Bootstraps and $2 a Day, but we have more information from the professionals and activists who lived the struggle and are trying to help others, or people who keep trying to claw their way out of the gigantic pit that the obvious (and not so obvious) moves by corporations, politicians, and voters have put them in. We also have clear, actionable items at the end of each topic. And they’re not difficult items, so you don’t have to already be in a position to make massive changes. This book shows that the small steps by individuals can make all the difference, especially if enough individuals speak up or engage.

I especially liked how this book went into the sub-prime car loan scam. I’ve long since known about the practices of these Ugly Duckling (or Drive Time now) type of dealerships that churn out cars with serious problems, collect some payments, repossess the car or leave the customer paying on a car they no longer have due to massive engine failure, resell if repo’d, repeat. The problem is that when someone can’t qualify for a loan from anywhere else, they’re stuck. Just like with renting subpar housing. Or working multiple low-wage jobs to try to get by. It’s a vicious cycle and this books perfectly lays out how it starts, how to break it, and just how difficult it is to break it, even temporarily.

While I realize that some may not want to read this because “it’s depressing”, I thinks it’s a must-read because of that. It’s reality for so many Americans and we need to remember that this country is failing such a large portion of its people that something needs to be done. And again, it doesn’t always have to be something huge. Just small actions or deeds could make all the difference for the neighbor you didn’t know is struggling to feed their children or the community you drive past and ignore on the way to Whole Foods.

This book is to poverty what White Fragility is to racism. In the same way I believe every white person needs to read White Fragility, every non-poor person needs to read Broke In America.

It is so easy for us to lay back on our couches and say that if poor people just got a job and applied themselves, they wouldn’t be poor. The average person doesn’t realize all that we take for granted in not being poor.

This book does an incredible job of explaining the challenges of poverty and how our system is designed to make life more difficult for the impoverished. Even more, each chapter gives suggestions of what you can do to be proactive.

It is a must read. In fact, I just bought it for three people.

#netgalley #brokeinamerica

5 stars
Broke in America
Joanne Samuel Goldblum; Colleen Shaddox

This book is both enlightening and maddening. How a country like America has these problems is beyond me. I really feel this book needs to be mandatory reading in all schools, perhaps even all politicians should read it so they would truly know what it is like to live in poverty. More people need to realize the true effects of deprivation and the real-life complications which occur due to living in a constant state of desperate need and stress.
Goldblum and Shaddox have done a remarkable job of showcasing the day-to-day lives of Americans who live on the edge of homelessness and even those that have drifted into it. Far too many people are one missed paycheck from catastrophe. How is this even possible in this country? This is going to be one of the most important books of 2021.
I so highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

"Broke in America" by Joanne Samuel Goldblum and Colleen Shaddox is what I would call a 101 course on poverty in America. The book provides a really great overview of how poverty exists in America from diaper and feminine hygiene insecurity to housing and food insecurity. The authors provide readers with some astoundingly sad facts about how low wages, a limited social safety net, poor policies, racism and other factors keep people in America poor. Each section of the book could really be its own book. This is an important read for the new year, especially as we see inequality grow as a result of Covid.

I worried that this book would be too "academic" and hard to follow or understand. It is none of these things. Broke in America is exceptional - well written, well organized, and easily understood even though the topic can be complex. The authors take the mystery out of poverty, and share specific examples of how policies formed around water, food, energy, and housing are cyclical. I also appreciated that at the end of each chapter they present attainable action steps. The amount of care and research that went into Broke in America is apparent throughout the book. Without even needing to be "political", it is an important book at an important time.

Let me start by saying SHOCKING!

As someone who is "Broke in America", I was completely unaware of the many issues keeping many more than half Americans unable to provide readily for basic needs in order to live comfortable lives.

This book was well researched and included many of the resources and studies used to find the downfall in the American system. I am extremely saddened that we as a country are not fighting to take care of each other and fighting to create better income and resources that we all need to survive.

This is definitely a MUST READ!

* There were many times while reading the formatting was wonky but I was able to get through it. I will say, however, MANY proper nouns and the beginning of many sentences were not capitalized and that drove me crazy. Also, several times where names were listed last name the lower case first name. I hope they fix this prior to release!

Thank you to the authors, BenBella Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a fantastic, albeit horrifying and maddening read. Even for those only minimally aware of the issues of economic inequality, it's obvious that way too many people are living paycheck to paycheck, or subsisting well below the poverty level, in the self-proclaimed "greatest country on earth". The framework used by the authors is very effective, pinpointing the issues first in terms of basic needs, then in the forms of oppression. Interwoven with individual glimpses into the lives of people impacted by the situation is the background and history of how this came about. The genius element is that clear, actionable items are included at the end of each topic. These are not difficult things, and the book shows how small steps by individuals can make a huge difference - very encouraging to find way for each of us to engage.

This is a must-read, and I cannot recommend it highly enough!

Broke in America is a well-researched book on poverty in America. It read like a sociology textbook, with three main sections - basic needs, forms of oppression, and solutions. I most enjoyed the solutions section, but thought that the author did a good job covering all the sections. Would recommend to gain a deeper understanding of poverty and what we can do to make changes!

This is an easy-to-read but thorough and eye-opening book. It addresses both the breadth and the depth of poverty in the US. It shows how intractable generational poverty is—how many Americans are denied even the most basic necessities, like clean water, which makes it impossible to create a better life. A must-read for all Americans..

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book opened my eyes to the plight of many people who live in America today. They are the ones who work minimum wage jobs with no benefits, who can't afford to stay home when sick because a bill won't get paid. Babies can't be put in daycare because mothers don't have money to buy diapers to leave with the baby. Hunger prevents children from learning when their stomachs are empty. The list goes on.

In this book, real people tell their stories of food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, etc. We are doing a poor job of helping the less fortunate with good programs to help them rise out of poverty. This book, at the end of each chapter, lists concrete steps we all can take to change things for the less fortunate. A must read!