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36 pages 1 hour read

$2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2015

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Book Brief

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Kathryn J. Edin, H. Luke Shaefer

$2.00 a Day

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2015
Book Details
Pages

210

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 2010s

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

$2.00 a Day by Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer examines extreme poverty in the United States, focusing on families surviving on less than $2 per person, per day. Following welfare reform in 1996, cash welfare dwindled, pushing many into such destitution. Through the lives of eight families, the book highlights their struggles with employment, housing, and survival, advocating for systemic reform. The book discusses topics including abuse, trauma, and exploitation.

Informative

Unnerving

Challenging

Emotional

Melancholic

Reviews & Readership

4.2

9,957 ratings

76%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

$2.00 a Day by Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer is a powerful investigation into severe poverty in the U.S., praised for its compelling storytelling and thorough research. While some critics find its policy solutions lacking depth, the personal narratives effectively highlight the human impact of extreme financial hardship. The book is a significant contribution to social policy literature.

Who should read this

Who Should Read $2.00 a Day?

Readers of $2.00 a Day by Kathryn J. Edin and H. Luke Shaefer will appreciate in-depth explorations of poverty and social issues. Comparable to Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed and Matthew Desmond’s Evicted, this book is suited for those interested in economic disparities, public policy, and sociology.

4.2

9,957 ratings

76%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

210

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 2010s

Publication Year

2015

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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