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Evicted

Poverty and Profit in the American City

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About this listen

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable, audiobook edition of Evicted by Mathew Desomond, read by Dion Graham.

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.

 Poverty & Homelessness Racism & Discrimination Social Sciences Discrimination

Critic reviews

This is an extraordinary and crucial piece of work. Read it. Please, read it (Adrian Nicole LeBlanc, author of RANDOM FAMILY)
This sensitive, achingly beautiful ethnography should refocus our understanding of poverty in America on the simple challenge of keeping a roof over your head. (Robert D. Putnam, Professor of Public Policy, Harvard, and author of BOWLING ALONE and OUR KIDS)
Evicted is astonishing-a masterpiece of writing and research that fills a tremendous gap in our understanding of poverty. Taking us into some of America's poorest neighborhoods, Desmond illustrates how eviction leads to a cascade of events, often triggered by something as simple as a child throwing a snowball at a car, that can trap families in a cycle of poverty for years. Beautiful, harrowing, and deeply human, Evicted is a must read for anyone who cares about social justice in this country. I loved it. (Rebecca Skloot, author of THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS)
All stars
Most relevant
Great study of the impact of lack of affordable housing and the complex problems of people from poorer backgrounds in America. I struggled a bit to follow the different stories - again, I might have found it easier to read in print than on audio - but the epilogue pulls everything together into a compelling argument.

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very easy to follow. An eye opener to what really goes on while trying to find accommodation.

Great audio book

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Absolute kudos to Matthew Desmond for his detailed look into the heart of America's troubled capitalist system. His research and first-hand accounts of people living in poverty in Milwaukee is desperate, heartbreaking and dire, at the same time he offers an alternative to attempt to remedy an age old discriminatory system.

Eight individuals and families in this book represent an ongoing endemic situation that has perpetuated over the last century. Desmond explains circumstances that many ie. institutions are familiar with but choose to not deal with. Definitely deserved of the Pulitzer Prize.

Grim, detailed outlook on the American poor

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This is a really important book. I am not the kind of person to write reviews or tell you what to read, but I have learned far more from this book than most. Believe the hype.

Performance was also outstanding. Well done Dion. Easily one of the best narrated books I have found on Audible.

An economics book that makes you cry.

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I haven’t even finished this book yet, but I can’t wait rating it already. It’s a rare find - a non-fiction book based on a sound research, beautifully written AND wonderfully narrated.
I’m hooked!
I’m a housing policy professional, but this book is a worth read way beyond my professional background. It’s about understanding society, and the intricate causes and implications of poverty.

Wonderful narration also!

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