Nobody who works hard should be poor in America, writes Pulitzer Prize-winning author Shipler. This statement seems rather straightforward and few would likely disagree with it. However, when it comes to the question of how to reduce the factors that cause poverty in America, the number of those who can agree on a solution dwindles significantly. Shipler presents individual case studies to expose the vicious social and economic injustices that afflict the working poor. For example, he poses the conundrum: How can you buy false teeth if you don't have a job? But how can you get a job without teeth? At times, his frustration gets the better of him, leading him to make sweeping judgments about single mothers, divorce, and race. Interestingly, the racially diverse cast that one might expect is largely absent from his account. While his proposed reforms are convincing, they are also rather uncontroversial, leaving the reader with a sense of despair. Although Working Poor may lack some long-range vision, it still begs our attention. As the San Diego Union-Tribune put it, "Read it and be ashamed." This is an excerpt from a review published in Bookmarks magazine.

This is a very good book indeed.

For those who have had only limited exposure to the lives of people living in poverty, it serves as a real eye opener.

Often, people assume that getting out of poverty is simply a matter of working hard and making better choices. However, this book profiles numerous real people and reveals that climbing the socio-economic ladder is far more complex than it appears at first glance.

It is a great read for everyone, but it is especially beneficial for those in the teaching field or those who manage low-income employees.

By reading this book, they can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and difficulties that people living in poverty face on a daily basis, and thus be better equipped to help and support them.

Overall, this book is highly recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about poverty and how to address it.

Brilliant and accessible, David K. Shipler is a remarkable author. He doesn't flaunt his intelligence over his readers. Instead, he gently guides us towards a clear understanding, showing us that we have the power to shape a meaningful impact. His laconic style truly enthused me.

Although reading about people in abject poverty can be rather morbid, it also serves an important purpose. It exposes us to the blessings we often take for granted. I realized that I am no better than the subjects in this book. Yet, through some means, I have managed to advance. When our ancestors prosper, it indeed helps the descendants. However, the descendants cannot simply remain at rest. We need to learn about our interests and strengths, and that's where our profession lies.

I truly hope that everyone can grow from reading David K. Shipler's works. As for the quote, "The best-kept financial secret in New York is the state requirement that banks offer accounts with a $25 minimum opening deposit, one-cent account balance, and eight free withdrawals a month for a $3 monthly fee (Shipler 20-21)." I am convinced that multitudes will be helped from the muck by this information. And then, those multitudes will be able to thrive in clean, safe homes, filled with joy, love, peace, and love feasts.

Be blessed!! Added 6/6/2021 Sunday.

While it was indeed an interesting examination into the ways in which the cycle of poverty is perpetuated, unfortunately, it didn't engage me as deeply as other narratives have. The stories of many of the characters presented were, without a doubt, interesting and held the potential to draw the reader in. However, the execution of these stories was somewhat repetitive. There were numerous instances where the same ideas and concepts were presented in a rather similar fashion, which made the reading experience a bit monotonous.

Moreover, there were many contradicting points within the author's argument. The author seemed to present different viewpoints that, at times, clashed with one another. While it is understandable that complex issues such as the cycle of poverty may have multiple perspectives, it would have been beneficial if the author had attempted to resolve these contradictions to some extent. Leaving them unresolved left me with a sense of confusion and a lack of clarity regarding the overall message that the author was trying to convey.