Poverty in America - 3rd Edition by John Iceland (Paperback)

About the Book

"This volume is an excellent overview of the dimensions and sources of American poverty. John Iceland combines statistical data, theoretical arguments, and historical information in a book that is highly readable and will very likely become a standard reference for students of poverty."--William Julius Wilson, author of "When Work Disappears"
"In just a few short pages, Iceland brings anyone--lay reader, student, professional researcher--up to speed on the major issues and debates about poverty in America. With succinct and engaging prose, "Poverty in America" covers the gamut--from theoretical issues to measurement to history to public policy--better than any other book out there right now."--Dalton Conley, author of "Honky"
"Must reading on a tough and important topic. With some answers that may surprise, Iceland sorts out competing theories of why people are poor in the richest country in the world. His book should motivate every reader--policy maker, researcher, citizen-- to think hard about what it means to be poor today and how our society can best reduce the hardship and poverty still with us."--Constance F. Citro, National Research Council of the National Academies, Washington, D.C.

Book Synopsis

The United States is among the most affluent nations in the world and has its largest economy; nevertheless, it has more poverty than most countries with similar standards of living. Growing income inequality and the Great Recession have made the problem worse. In this thoroughly revised edition of Poverty in America, Iceland takes a new look at this issue by examining why poverty remains pervasive, what it means to be poor in America today, which groups are most likely to be poor, the root causes of poverty, and the effects of policy on poverty. This new edition also includes completely updated data and extended discussions of poverty in the context of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements as well as new chapters on the Great Recession and global poverty. In doing so this book provides the most recent information available on patterns and trends in poverty and engages in an open and accessible manner in current critical debates.

From the Back Cover

"John Iceland combines statistical data, theoretical arguments, and historical information in a book that is highly readable. An excellent overview of the dimensions and sources of American poverty."--William Julius Wilson, Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor, Harvard University

"[Poverty in America] is comprehensive, easily accessible, up-to-date, and has a vast reference section for those who want even more detail. It could serve as a textbook for upper level undergraduate or graduate courses, or as a reference book for instructors trying to construct undergraduate lectures. It is an intelligent, balanced, and carefully researched handbook."--Social Forces

"Poverty, one of the most heavily researched issues in our society, is, ironically also one of the most politicized. In an effort to cut through the thicket of data, studies, rhetoric, and myths, John Iceland has produced a concise book that helps us analyze current thinking."--Contemporary Sociology

Review Quotes

"In just a few short pages, Iceland brings anyone--lay reader, student, professional researcher--up to speed on the major issues and debates about poverty in America. With succinct and engaging prose, Poverty in America covers the gamut--from theoretical issues to measurement to history to public policy--better than any other book out there right now."

About the Author

John Iceland is Professor and Head of the Department of Sociology, Penn State University. He is the author of Where We Live Now: Immigration and Race in the United States.