Matthew Desmond

Poverty and Profit in the American City

Evicted

Based on years of embedded fieldwork and painstakingly gathered data, this masterful book transforms our understanding of extreme poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving a devastating, uniquely American problem.

Katherine Yang

A fascinating and tragic revelation of the institutional and systemic epidemic of eviction. Each story is a powerful testimony of the vicious cycle of eviction—of the fact that each misfortune that befalls an individual or a family means a strike against them in the form of disqualification for governmental assistance or rental applications, thus cumulatively incapacitating them and deepening the spiral of poverty. Not only does Evicted compellingly tell the stories of these individuals and families, but it lets Desmond's narrative and editorial voice shine through, his despair and passion evident in the way stories and characters are presented with empathy and humanity. A critical book for the modern age, and feeling especially relevant to me given where I am now.

Jowanza Joseph

This is an incredibly detailed and fascinating look at how the poor deal with housing in the United States. I was particularly impressed with the author, he lived in the community he researched in this book and got all of his accounts first hand. I don't agree with all the policy pieces at the end of the book, but the details around housing in the book are just fascinating.

Todd Luallen

A tremendous insight into the cascading difficulties that assault the poor in America. I can't say I enjoyed the book, but I can say that I am grateful for having the opportunity to read it. Desmond has done a tremendous work in Evicted, and I can't help but hope that a tremendous amount of good will come from it. Listening to the audio book I had trouble at times remembering who was who and where they were in the city, and that is probably my biggest complaint. But I don't know how I would have addressed the issue if I was Desmond, I think the information from multiple perspectives was essential to covering the problem in the city and I would not have wanted people cut out of the narrative. My favorite part of the book was the Epilogue, and I don't think I've ever said that about a book before. In the Epilogue, Desmond gives his methodology and some behind the scenes information about what went on in his process. Even though the book isn't about him and his process, and you can tell that he is trying hard to deflect attention away from himself, there is something very interesting about his personal adventure because most of us that are reading this book are probably in a similar socio-economic class as Desmond - and for that reason there is a connection with him that there is not with the subjects of most of the book. His conclusions at the end of the book are very well thought out and insightful. And I definitely feel like his proposed solutions would bring about welcome change. This book is incredibly well researched (my first foray into an ethnographer writer) and delivers a powerful message to any who are concerned with those less fortunate in America today.

Maggie Gordon

Thank you to Net Galley and Crown Publishing for providing me with a review copy of this book! 

I first stumbled across Evicted by Matthew Desmond in the New York Times. They posted a lengthy excerpt online, and I found the writing incredibly compelling. So I put the book on hold at my library. There were over 120 holds. Evicted is popular and obviously hitting a nerve with people.

I admit, even though the New York Times excerpt was fantastic, I started reading this book with trepidation. Being an academic myself, I know ethnographies are terribly hard to write, and the ethics associated with doing them are problematic at best. However, my fears were calmed with the very careful way that Desmond wrote about the people in his book, and particularly by his final chapter outlining the choices he made while doing his research. He chose to not use the first person perspective, instead opting to try and keep himself out of the narrative as much as possible. While he did not pay people for interviews, he did what true ethnographers must do: he lived with the people he was trying to understand. He became, in many ways, their friend and confident. He may not have handed out honorariums, but he helped pay for people's moves, drove others around to look for housing, and watched over children. One of my main concerns with books such as this is that the author benefits substantially while none of the subjects do. Desmond, however, tried very hard to ensure that reciprocity was a feature of these relationships, and he's sharing the proceeds of this book with the families he profiled. For a book meant for the general public, I was extremely impressed at the care that Desmond took in crafting a strong methodology and an ethical project. He is definitely an author deserving of the Genius grant!

The book itself is a heartbreaking, in-depth exploration of a particular aspect of poverty: housing instability. While many people in sociology talk about the changing nature of neighbourhoods, Desmond gets into why neighbourhoods have stopped being hubs of community, and focuses on the rise of evictions and free market housing. Evictions, according to Desmond, have exploded in recent years causing extreme economic and psychological effects on the poor. Without housing stability, people struggle to hold jobs, raise their children, access social services, and maintain their health. Housing is one of a person's key needs and without it, people scramble just to survive, forcing them into terrible situations. 

The book profiles several individuals and families from Milwaukee, showing how poverty is perpetuated by the housing market. While Desmond does not shy away from speaking about people's difficulties, he also ensures to explain why people make the choices that they do. Rather than shaking a metaphorical finger at people, he seeks to understand why someone might spend a month's worth of food stamps on a single meal, and successfully shows how these seemingly irrational actions to outsiders are actually quite rational in the circumstances. 

Evicted is a call to action. The housing situation of millions of North Americans is completely untenable, and political action must be taken. Desmond carefully shows how housing supports are actually cheaper for cities than the uncontrolled free market, and his careful humanisation of the people who are plagued by systemic housing instability hopefully shows readers that the solution to these issues is not to victim blame. Evicted is an outstanding book that should be widely read and discussed.

Patty Pforte

Powerful read 

The stories are clear and the impact of eviction is made abundantly clear throughout the story telling. It is a worthy book to check out.

WINNER OF THE 2017 PULITZER PRIZE GENERAL NON-FICTION 

From Harvard sociologist and MacArthur “Genius” Matthew Desmond, a landmark work of scholarship and reportage that will forever change the way we look at poverty in America
 
In this brilliant, heartbreaking book, Matthew Desmond takes us into the poorest neighborhoods of Milwaukee to tell the story of eight families on the edge. Arleen is a single mother trying to raise her two sons on the $20 a month she has left after paying for their rundown apartment. Scott is a gentle nurse consumed by a heroin addiction. Lamar, a man with no legs and a neighborhood full of boys to look after, tries to work his way out of debt. Vanetta participates in a botched stickup after her hours are cut. All are spending almost everything they have on rent, and all have fallen behind.

The fates of these families are in the hands of two landlords: Sherrena Tarver, a former schoolteacher turned inner-city entrepreneur, and Tobin Charney, who runs one of the worst trailer parks in Milwaukee. They loathe some of their tenants and are fond of others, but as Sherrena puts it, “Love don’t pay the bills.” She moves to evict Arleen and her boys a few days before Christmas.

Even in the most desolate areas of American cities, evictions used to be rare. But today, most poor renting families are spending more than half of their income on housing, and eviction has become ordinary, especially for single mothers. In vivid, intimate prose, Desmond provides a ground-level view of one of the most urgent issues facing America today. As we see families forced  into shelters, squalid apartments, or more dangerous neighborhoods, we bear witness to the human cost of America’s vast inequality—and to people’s determination and intelligence in the face of hardship.

Based on years of embedded fieldwork and painstakingly gathered data, this masterful book transforms our understanding of extreme poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving a devastating, uniquely American problem. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.
Source: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/247816/evicted-by-matthew-desmond/

Ahmed Galal

This is one of the best books I have ever read!
I don't usually write reviews but I'm in awe of the book and I felt should give something back.

I thought I know Poverty but I was very wrong, it's insane the effect that it can have in someone's life, from health, relationships, work/career, family and raising kids and it's doesn't only affect the poor but all of us as a society.

It was very hard reading the painful details (beautifully described though) and literally had to cry towards the end when the author was talking to one of the tenants asking him if he's ok with writing about his story and the tenant said: "You know, I’ve got no pride or anything left.”

The book is interesting, frustrating, beautifully written, highly recommend reading this book.

*WINNER OF THE 2017 PULITZER PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION* 'Beautifully written, thought-provoking, and unforgettable ... If you want a good understanding of how the issues that cause poverty are intertwined, you should read this book' Bill Gates, Best Books of 2017 'Essential. A compelling and damning exploration of the abuse of one of our basic human rights: shelter.' Owen Jones Arleen spends nearly all her money on rent but is kicked out with her kids in Milwaukee's coldest winter for years. Doreen's home is so filthy her family call it 'the rat hole'. Lamar, a wheelchair-bound ex-soldier, tries to work his way out of debt for his boys. Scott, a nurse turned addict, lives in a gutted-out trailer. This is their world. And this is the twenty-first century: where fewer and fewer people can afford a simple roof over their head. From abandoned slums to shelters, eviction courts to ghettoes, Matthew Desmond spent years living with and recording the stories of those struggling to survive - yet who won't give up. A work of love, care and humanity, Evicted reminds us why, without a home, nothing else is possible. It is one of the most necessary books of our time. 'This is an extraordinary and crucial piece of work. Read it. Please, read it' - Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, author of Random Family 'Sensitive, achingly beautiful' - Robert D. Putnam, author of Our Kids

Francis Buggey

phew. this book was rough. by covering the story of eviction in milwaukee, desmond also manages to cover poverty, classism, segregation, racism, and highlights the need for affordable housing. i’m overtly disgusted that we, as a country, voluntarily choose to treat people living in poverty like this.

Casey W. 

Eye opening and a little depressing. I had never considered the cases of extreme poverty. I didn't realise that eviction was so common.

Danai koftori

A truly eye-opening book about evictions and poverty in the US and how broken the system is. I cannot recommend this book enough if you would like to know how we got where we are today, how serious the problem with evictions is especially in poor communities and how it is so interwined with poverty, homelesnees, depression, lack of education and so many more social problems. This book is so well researched and argued and even though it is heartbreaking it also offers insights to policy changes that can make a difference and help break this vicious circle.

Lamia Hajani

One of the best books I have ever read. Do yourself a favor and read this beautiful ethnographic study.

Melody Izard

This guy. What research. What compassion. He fairly represents the people he follows (both the tenants and the landlords). Once you start digging the hole of poverty is there ever a way out?

Jennifer Dieter

One of the best books I've read on poverty. Through true stories, Desmond captures the complexity of poverty and it's impact on the people who in live it every day. The stories will grab you, the statistics will frustrate you, and this book will leave you changed and ready to fight.

Omar Fernandez

Equal parts saddening and empowering, this book serves as a call for action around a problem that we can't afford to ignore. What happens when families don't have a steady place to live? It is costly, not just to them but to their communities and society as a whole.

Jeni Enjaian

I could not put this book down except for the times when I absolutely had to since I had to sleep and teach and all those other good things.
Desmond crafts an absolutely compelling narrative, weaving the real stories of all these people in poverty, as well as their landlords, objectively. That's the first thing I noticed about the book and admired greatly.
As I pondered the lives of these people, especially the instability caused for Arleen's children, I thought about my own students at the Title 1 school where I work. We have a fairly transient population, although some kids I know have stable homes. I wonder how many of them deal with some of the scenarios described in the book. I know it affects them deeply.
Even when he got to his epilogue where he talked about possible solutions to this glaring problems and lost objectivity to a degree, he did not lose me as a reader. 
Then, when he described his methodology, that might have been one of my favorite parts of the book. As an amateur historian and advocate of accurate and extensive data collection, this portion fastinated me.

I highly recommend this book.

Juliana Callahan

This book was a very interesting view on poverty and how poverty itself as well as the issues with our housing market force people to live. A few statistics had me shocked and I couldn't believe how many times some of the people we followed got evicted. It seemed like just when they started to get on their feet, they'd be ripped out of their apartment and forced to leave. I loved seeing Scott's issues with addiction and how he was able to carry himself out of his addiction as well as into a secure lifestyle/position. I also greatly enjoyed seeing how the author Matthew Desmond described his research and what happened after he left the Northside. I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to learn another aspect of racism or poverty that they haven't looked at or someone who enjoys learning about topics from the view of multiple people's stories.

Laura

Your enjoyment of Evicted directly depends on your sympathy towards the people it depicts. On one hand, I emphasized with the people and their situations about being evicted from their homes, especially the young mothers or the disabled man with two teenage boys, who couldn't get a job because of their children or disabilities. On the other hand, I felt that the book was skewed in favor of the evictees, or that some of these families weren't doing very much to help themselves out. I really liked the landlady, who cared for her tenants but also knew that she had to make a living and couldn't get too attached. Still, I was going to give this book a four star until the obnoxious political grandstanding of the epilogue and that left a bad taste in my mouth. But that's just me.

Hugo Ahlberg

Super tragic but an incredible piece of work and ethnographic research. One of the best book I read all year. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Evicted Poverty and Profit in the American City

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