Matthew Desmond is an American sociologist known for insightful nonfiction exploring social issues. His notable book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City explores housing instability in America, highlighting real-life struggles with compassion and depth.
If you enjoy reading books by Matthew Desmond then you might also like the following authors:
Alex Kotlowitz writes honestly and sensitively about poverty, violence, and the struggles of American families. In There Are No Children Here, he tells the true story of two brothers growing up in a dangerous Chicago housing project.
Kotlowitz carefully portrays the boys' lives, hopes, and fears, giving readers a close-up view of poverty's tough realities in urban America.
Barbara Ehrenreich tackles challenging social and economic topics with humor, sharp insight, and firsthand experience. In Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich goes undercover to work a series of low-income, low-status jobs across America.
She reveals how hard it truly is to survive on low wages, showing readers the harsh reality many people face every day.
Katherine Boo writes with clarity, empathy, and careful research about people living in poverty. In her book Behind the Beautiful Forevers, she takes readers into a Mumbai slum, portraying the daily struggles, dreams, and complexities of life there.
Her storytelling brings readers close to the people she writes about, helping us understand poverty across cultures.
Siddhartha Mukherjee is a doctor and author who explains complicated medical subjects in thoughtful, clear prose. In The Emperor of All Maladies, he tells the history and science of cancer, weaving together personal stories, scientific breakthroughs, and cultural perspectives.
His work balances detail and personal narrative, making challenging topics accessible and absorbing.
Ta-Nehisi Coates writes powerfully about race, inequality, and American identity. His book Between the World and Me is structured as a letter to his teenage son, sharing experiences of race, history, and injustice.
Coates uses a personal and direct style, challenging readers to confront difficult realities honestly and openly.
Arlie Russell Hochschild writes with empathy and clarity about the emotional realities behind social and political divides. She explores complex social issues through the lived experiences of ordinary people.
In her book Strangers in Their Own Land, she engages deeply with conservative America, providing a thoughtful perspective on why people believe and vote the way they do.
J.D. Vance offers a personal and candid look at rural poverty and social hardship in America. In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, he shares his own upbringing in rural Ohio and Appalachia, examining the struggles faced by working-class families.
His honest storytelling helps readers understand larger cultural and economic challenges in America.
Patrick Radden Keefe combines careful reporting with compelling narrative. He writes clearly and directly, making complex subjects accessible and engaging.
In Empire of Pain, he investigates the Sackler family's role in the opioid crisis, offering insights into corporate greed, addiction, and accountability.
Anand Giridharadas critiques systemic inequality and questions the role of wealth and elites in society. He encourages readers to rethink inequality and the influence of philanthropy and powerful institutions on social progress.
In Winners Take All, he challenges conventional wisdom by examining how wealthy individuals and corporations shape policies and discussions about social change.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor writes incisively about race, inequality, and social movements. Her work is informative and sharply analytical, bringing attention to systemic injustice and efforts for change.
In her book Race for Profit, Taylor examines how racial discrimination in housing persists through financial exploitation, highlighting connections between capitalism, policy, and ongoing racial inequality.
Isabel Wilkerson writes clearly and powerfully about race, migration, and America's social divisions. In her book The Warmth of Other Suns, she tells the story of the Great Migration through the personal journeys of African Americans leaving the South.
Readers who appreciate Matthew Desmond's focus on personal stories and social issues will find Wilkerson's narrative engaging and insightful.
Bryan Stevenson blends legal insights with deep compassion in his writing about injustice and inequality in America. His widely praised work, Just Mercy, exposes flaws in the criminal justice system and highlights his own experience as a defense attorney.
Like Desmond, Stevenson uses powerful human stories to shine a light on systemic issues and inspire readers to think differently.
David Shipler writes thoughtfully about poverty, inequality, and the complexity of American society. In his book The Working Poor: Invisible in America, Shipler explores the struggles faced by individuals living paycheck to paycheck despite working tirelessly.
Fans of Matthew Desmond's compassionate and direct portrayal of poverty will appreciate Shipler's balanced storytelling.
Adrian Nicole LeBlanc writes vivid, empathetic narratives about urban life, poverty, and family. Her book Random Family provides an intimate look at the lives of young people growing up amidst poverty, crime, and ambition in the Bronx.
Like Desmond, she brings readers face-to-face with the realities and challenges faced by people often overlooked or misunderstood in popular media.
Sudhir Venkatesh writes accessible and immersive accounts of urban poverty, gang life, and the underground economy. In Gang Leader for a Day, he shares his experience embedding himself within a Chicago inner-city gang.
Readers who appreciate Desmond's blend of field research, storytelling, and social analysis will find Venkatesh's work fascinating and eye-opening.