Evicted Audiobook by Matthew Desmond [Free Download by Trial]

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond

The readers can download Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City Audiobook for free via Audible Free Trial.

Summary

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City Audiobook by Matthew Desmond depicts the eviction epidemic in the US. Desmonds embarks on a journey visiting many localities in and around Milwaukee for documenting the housing insecurities and eviction related issues faced by people. He had met a wide section of the society covering the sample based on age group, marital status, race etc. He met both- the landlords and the tenants- and provides his opinions in a rational and unbiased manner. Desmond says that one in eight tenants in Milwaukee have experienced forced eviction between 2007 to 2009.

Desmond provides the story of Arleen who gets evicted as her son Jori throws snowball at a car. The driver is enraged and kicks in the front door. Another time she fails to pay her rent on time as she had to pay for her sister’s funeral and she faces eviction. The author says that the women are the worst affected from eviction especially black women. They earn less than men and are unable to strike better deals with the landlord who generally is a man.

The author also portrays the social costs of eviction. It prevents the tenants from renting easily the next time since their names are on eviction records. Children also have to frequently change schools and their belongings which adversely effects them. People are unable to form any kind of enduring social bonds if they get evicted and move from one place to another. Desmond also shows the kind of strain which rent is putting on people. Ideally, rent should not be more than 30% of the total income, though in some cases it is more than 50% which puts the family in a financial crisis.

Review

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City Audiobook by Matthew Desmond received critical acclaim from the critics and the readers. The book provides a scathing insight into poverty and eviction problem in the US. The author shows that how the issues of poverty and chronic housing problems are intertwined.

Desmond also portrays the after effects and the trauma people go through after experiencing eviction. He says that “eviction reveals people’s vulnerability and desperation, as well as their ingenuity and guts.” The book provides excellent insights into the nexus between poverty and housing insecurities and the various reasons and after effects of eviction on the people. This is a must-read for readers wanting to develop a better understanding and insights into the subject.