How can the United States be the home of widespread, debilitating poverty while simultaneous being one of the wealthiest countries on Earth?

This is the question that confronts readers early in sociologist Matthew Desmond's new book, Poverty, By America. We must look beyond the poor to answer this questions, Desmond writes. To understand the causes of poverty, Americans living lives of privilege and plenty must examine themselves.

Desmond joins Midday to talk about his book, and the ways the country's affluent keep poor people poor. What can everyday people do to help and change society?

How can the United States be the home of widespread, debilitating poverty while simultaneous being one of the wealthiest countries on Earth?
This is the question that confronts readers early in sociologist Matthew Desmond's new book, <a href="https://matthewdesmondbooks.com/">Poverty, By America</a>. We must look beyond the poor to answer this questions, Desmond writes. To understand the causes of poverty, Americans living lives of privilege and plenty must examine themselves.
Desmond joins Midday to talk about his book, and the ways the country's affluent keep poor people poor. What can everyday people do to help and change society?

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine. We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at midday@wypr.org

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine. We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at <a href="mailto:midday@wypr.org">midday@wypr.org</a>

Midday

Monday-Friday from noon-1:00, Tom Hall and his guests are talking about what's on your mind, and what matters most to Marylander's, the latest news, local and national politics, education and the environment, popular culture and the arts, sports and science, race and religion, movies and medicine.  We welcome your questions and comments. E-mail us at midday@wypr.org.

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