Author, journalist, and sociology professor Matthew Desmond is known for his hard-hitting expose onsystemic issues plaguing the United States and its people. In his most famous book, Evicted, Desmond explored the housing and eviction crisis in America; in another book, he looked at the role of race. In his 2023 book Poverty, by America, Desmond takes a look at a growing problem: people living in poverty and the growing wealth gap within the country.
In Poverty, by America, Desmond hypothesizes that the policies the government has instituted—like food stamps and certain tax breaks—benefit wealthy Americans more than they do those who need them. In other words, misguided and bad legislation has exacerbated the problem of poverty in America. Desmond also traces the issue to corporations, whom he blames for being greedy. However, Desmond's book doesn't just explore the potential causes of poverty; he offers solutions. He talks about things like tax reform and greater investment in relevant programs as potential solutions to poverty.
As with his previous books, Poverty, by America was an instant bestseller when it was published in 2023. Additionally, while most hailed Desmond's book as a masterpiece, others found it to be too dark and factually incorrect (in a review for Vox, Dylan Matthews wrote, "Desmond's core premise, that expanding safety net programs haven't slashed poverty, is wrong. They have."). The New Yorker offered up a more positive review of Desmond's book, calling it a "gut punch."
