Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American CityEvicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Score Modern
What it's about
In 2008 and 2009, sociologist Matthew Desmond moved into a trailer park on Milwaukee's south side, and then an inner-city rooming house, to live alongside the people he was studying. He follows eight families as they fall behind on rent, face the sheriff and search for somewhere, anywhere, to go next, along with two landlords who make their living renting to them. Told like narrative journalism, it shows how eviction isn't just a result of poverty in America but one of its causes.
Why it's worth reading
It reads like a novel, with people you'll think about long after, and it's backed by years of research. It won the Pulitzer Prize and changed how America talks about housing.
You'll love it if you liked
Poverty, by America
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great MigrationGood to know
The stories come first and the data and ideas for solutions come at the end, so it never feels like homework. It's heartbreaking in places.
By the numbers
- Readers99 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller51 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #4 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #12 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Matthew Desmond
If you like this, read next
Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City worth reading?
Yes. It reads like a novel, with people you'll think about long after, and it's backed by years of research. It ranks #12 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 93.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City about?
In 2008 and 2009, sociologist Matthew Desmond moved into a trailer park on Milwaukee's south side, and then an inner-city rooming house, to live alongside the people he was studying. He follows eight families as they fall behind on rent, face the sheriff and search for somewhere, anywhere, to go next, along with two landlords who make their living renting to them. Told like narrative journalism, it shows how eviction isn't just a result of poverty in America but one of its causes.
How long does it take to read Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City?
About 11 hours (434 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City won?
Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction) winner (2017); NBCC Award (Nonfiction) winner (2016).
What should I read after Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City?
If you liked it, try Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander or The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.