Americas unprecedented economic boom has left behind large numbers of the population. Nobody who works hard should be poor in america, writes pulitzer prize winner david shipler. David k shipler an intimate portrait of povertylevel working families from a range of ethnic backgrounds in america reveals their legacy of lowpaying, deadend jobs, dysfunctional parenting, and substance abuse. Invisible in america is a 2004 book written by pulitzer prize winner david k. Clearheaded, rigorous, and compassionate, he journeys deeply into the lives of individual store clerks and factory workers, farm laborers and sweatshop. Invisible in america from the worlds largest community of readers. Shipler reported for the new york times from 1966 to 1988 in new york, saigon, moscow, jerusalem, and washington, d. The phrase working poor doesnt carry much weight in this fractious political season.
Invisible in america a book about the intersection of employment and poverty that should have special resonance for washingtonians. From the author of the pulitzer prizewinning arab and jew, an intimate portrait unfolds of working american families struggling against insurmountable odds to. In fact, its so good, it really could be used in a college course on the subject. From personal interviews and research, shipler presents in this book anecdotes and life stories of individuals considered the working poor. At times, the author was bogged down in minute detail. Invisible in america vintage reprint by david k shipler isbn. Invisible in america and proceeds to demolish both. Invisible in america has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the working poor. Invisible in america 97803757082 by shipler, david k. Chapter 1, money and its opposite, explains the workings and effects of tax payments and refunds, the abuse of poor by public and private institutions, the spending habits of the working poor, the consumerist culture of the u. Apr 16, 2005 david shipler talks about his book the working poor.
The author is the pulitzer prizewinning journalist and writer david shipler. This guided and very personal tour through the lives of the working poor shatters the myth that america is a country in which prosperity and security are the inevitable rewards of gainful employment. The books aim is to discover, analyze, and expose the lives of the people who do work that is essential to americas comfort and prosperity but who do not share in it. Invisible in america is a much more comprehensive and thoroughly researched book on the topic. It is much easier in the united states to be decently dressed than it is to be decently. Shipler is nowhere near as dry as one might expect from the title. A vivid portrait of the struggle of the working poor to acquire steady, decently paid employment. Click on the tabs above to find books, articles, videos, websites, and much, much more. These lowwage workers lack the education and technical or social skills to participate in the societys economic opportunities. And unlike most works on poverty, this book also offers compelling portraits of employers struggling against razorthin profits and competition from abroad.
How america treats its working poor people working very hard and being kept in. Nickel and dimed and the working poor freebooksummary. David shipler talks about his book the working poor. Jan 04, 2004 an eyeopening portrayal of the difficulty of dealing with poverty in this country told from the perspective of people dealing with it every day. Labeled the working poor, these folks cant manage to get ahead in spite of spending long hours on the job. He talked about the problem of poverty in america, causes. I was once on section 8 housing and disability and even still i never knew true poverty. Invisible in america is not a book of answer it is a book of questions born of insight. He is the author of six books, including the bestsellers russia and the working poor, as well as arab and jew, which won the pulitzer. Shipler identifies those two competing visions in the working poor.
With pointed recommendations for change that challenge republicans and democrats alike, the working poor stands to make a differencepage 4 of cover. Invisible in america pdf,, download ebookee alternative practical tips for a best ebook reading experience. He wrote the 2004 national bestseller the working poor. One of the topics being that employers can be biased when it comes to hiring employees or even keeping them. Shipler 2004, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Shipler makes clear in this powerful, humane study, the invisible poor are engaged in the activity most respected in american ideologyhard, honest work. Apr 01, 2004 pulitzer prizewinning journalist david shipler observed some impoverished working americans and their families for years to research his new book, the working poor. Shipler has not organized the book with definitive chapter headings.
It is 2004, before the real sht hit the fan in 2008. Clearheaded, rigorous, and compassionate, he journeys deeply into the lives of individual store clerks and factory workers, farm laborers and sweatshop seamstresses, illegal immigrants in menial jobs and americans saddled with immense student loans and paltry wages. Students will engage in the online book group through a discussion board in blackboard. Shipler makes clear in this powerful, humane study, t. He is the author of six previous books, including the best sellers russia and the working poor, as well as arab and jew, which won the pulitzer prize. Shipler, shipler brings up topics that actual people deal with in life. Shipler writes with enormous grace and he captures the immense frustration endured by the working poor as few others have.
America has the bestdressed poverty the world has ever known. Invisible in america is a 2004 book written by pulitzer prizewinner david k. The shame, in this case, comes from the false notion that hard work and prosperity go hand in hand in america, and that social advancement is possible for anyone of good character who, to put it in political. This is clearly one of those seminal books that every american should read and read now. The purpose of the book group is for students to engage in a scholarly discussion about poverty by. After reading the two books throughout the first half of the semester i would like to answer. He talked about the problem of poverty in america, causes of poverty, employment policy, and the. In 1997, as americas prosperity soared ix, shipler undertook a sixyear study of the. The poor face a rigid system that makes it close to impossible for them to rise. This book about the plight of the working poor in america is good but a little dated.
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