Poverty, by America

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What surprised you most about Desmond’s comprehensive view of poverty as not simply a lack of money but also pain, fear, shame, and enforced restraint?

2. Which personal story in the book had the strongest impact on your understanding of poverty in America?

3. Desmond’s title frames poverty “by America,” offering a different perspective from other works on economic inequality. How does his approach compare to books like Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed or Heather McGhee’s The Sum of Us?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. When have you recognized your own participation in systems that may perpetuate poverty?

2. The book discusses economic anxiety experienced by many Americans despite relative prosperity. Has reading Desmond’s analysis changed your perspective on your financial security?

3. Which “invisible welfare” benefits have you or your family received without thinking of them as government assistance?

4. Desmond describes the concept of “structural immorality” that compels us to protect our interests at others’ expense. Can you identify a situation where you’ve experienced this tension?

5. What privileges or comforts might you be willing to reconsider after reading Desmond’s arguments about creating a more equitable society?

6. Have you witnessed examples of predatory lending or housing exploitation in your community similar to those described in the book?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. What connections do you see between today’s economic segregation and America’s historical policies of racial segregation that Desmond references?

2. Poverty rates in America remain significantly higher than in other developed nations. Which cultural or political factors contribute most strongly to this disparity?

3. Despite contradicting evidence, myths about poverty being caused by immigrants or single mothers persist in American society. Why do you think these narratives remain powerful?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What purpose does Desmond’s opening about his family losing their home serve in establishing his credibility and approach?

2. The contrast between “private opulence and public squalor” (105) appears throughout Desmond’s book. Where is this theme most powerfully illustrated?

3. Desmond’s background as a sociologist influences his presentation of poverty data alongside personal stories. Does this varied approach strengthen or limit his arguments?

4. Why does Desmond use the metaphor of tearing down walls in his final chapter, and what meanings does this image carry?

5. The book’s structure moves from descriptions of poverty through its causes to proposed solutions. What effect does this organization have on your understanding of the issue?

6. Throughout the book, Desmond repeatedly challenges The Myths of Scarcity in American Society—a central theme in the text. What makes this rhetorical strategy particularly effective?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Describe a documentary based on Poverty, by America. Which specific stories or statistics would you highlight to make the greatest impact?

2. Design a community-level initiative inspired by one of Desmond’s policy recommendations that could address poverty in your local area.

3. Imagine you’re writing a response to Desmond suggesting an additional policy proposal he didn’t include in his book. What would you recommend and why?

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