Matthew Desmond

A MacArthur “Genius” brings us a “powerful, monstrously effective” book (Jill Leovy, The American Scholar) that “has set a new standard for reporting on poverty” (Barbara Ehrenreich, New York Times Book Review). Now in paperback, with a new Reader’s Guide.

Winner of the 2017 non-fiction Pulitzer Prize

Even in the most desolate areas of American cities, evictions used to be rare. But today, most poor renting families are spending more than half of their income on housing, and eviction has become ordinary, especially for single mothers. In Evicted, Desmond provides a ground-level view of one of the most urgent issues facing America today. As we see families forced into shelters, squalid apartments, or more dangerous neighborhoods, we bear witness to the human cost of America’s vast inequality—and to people’s determination and intelligence in the face of hardship. Through the stories of eight families, this masterful book transforms our understanding of extreme poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving a devastating, uniquely American problem. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible.