Sarah Smarsh is an American nonfiction writer known for exploring economic inequality and rural America. Her acclaimed memoir, Heartland:
A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth, thoughtfully examines her family's experiences with poverty and resilience.
If you enjoy reading books by Sarah Smarsh then you might also like the following authors:
Tara Westover writes personal, honest accounts of family and education. She often explores how isolation shapes a person's identity and how gaining an education can expand someone's perspective.
In Educated, Westover shares her own story of growing up in a strict survivalist family, with limited access to formal education, and how she eventually finds her way into academia and a broader understanding of the world.
J.D. Vance writes stories that mix personal memoir with cultural commentary, especially on working-class American life and the challenges faced in struggling communities. His writing confronts issues like poverty, addiction, and limited economic mobility.
In Hillbilly Elegy, Vance writes openly about his own upbringing in Ohio's Rust Belt and the Appalachian values and family dynamics that shaped him.
Beth Macy is known for thoughtful investigative journalism focused on communities in crisis. She closely examines how social inequalities, addiction, and economic hardships shape ordinary people's lives.
In Dopesick, Macy explores America's opioid epidemic and how pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and broken economic systems led to widespread suffering in small towns and cities across the country.
Arlie Russell Hochschild is a sociologist and author who examines the emotional lives and perceptions of people caught up in America's cultural divides. She writes with clarity and compassion about complex social and political issues.
In Strangers in Their Own Land, Hochschild travels to Louisiana to spend time with working-class conservative voters, seeking to understand their frustrations, fears, and hopes firsthand.
Barbara Ehrenreich is a writer and investigative journalist recognized for examining economic inequality and working-class poverty in America. Her direct, vivid storytelling sheds light on the harsh realities that low-income workers face daily.
In her notable work, Nickel and Dimed, Ehrenreich examines firsthand what life is like for minimum-wage earners struggling to get by, exposing a side of the American workforce that is often unseen and misunderstood.
Matthew Desmond writes with deep empathy and clarity about social issues and inequality in America. His careful reporting captures the harsh realities many face, especially around housing instability and poverty.
His award-winning book, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, offers an eye-opening look at eviction and homelessness. Readers of Sarah Smarsh will appreciate his honest storytelling and strong commitment to highlighting overlooked struggles.
Stephanie Land shares deeply personal stories that illustrate the daily struggles of poverty, making the unseen visible through honest and direct prose.
Her memoir, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive, reveals the stresses of balancing low-paying work, childcare, and housing insecurity.
Those drawn to Sarah Smarsh's exploration of working-class life will find Land's storytelling relatable, honest, and deeply human.
Jesmyn Ward explores race, poverty, and social inequality through powerful narratives that touch on personal loss and resilience. Her insightful prose brings to life the communities of the American South.
In her memoir, Men We Reaped, Ward confronts the pain of losing young men she loved, connecting their deaths to broader issues of poverty, racism, and lack of opportunity. Fans of Sarah Smarsh will appreciate Ward's courage and sensitivity in confronting tough realities.
Rick Bragg writes with warmth, humor, and profound emotional depth about his upbringing in the rural South. He captures the joy, struggle, and humanity of working-class families in clear, vivid language.
His memoir, All Over but the Shoutin', details his challenging yet affectionate family history, marked by poverty, hardship, and the strength of family bonds.
Readers who value Sarah Smarsh's sincere, unflinching look at marginalized experiences will find Bragg's work equally powerful and meaningful.
Eliza Griswold shines a light on overlooked struggles in rural America, combining journalism and personal empathy to explore environmental and economic challenges.
Her book, Amity and Prosperity: One Family and the Fracturing of America, reveals how fracking has affected small-town families, provoking thoughtful discussions about inequality, corporate exploitation, and the strength of community resilience.
Readers who resonate with Sarah Smarsh's detailed exploration of rural and working-class issues will find Griswold's writing illuminating.
Hope Jahren offers thoughtful narratives that combine personal story with scientific exploration. Her writing is approachable and engaging, giving readers a close look at both human struggles and environmental concerns.
Her memoir, Lab Girl, shares her personal journey into science, providing insight into the challenges and joys of her life as a scientist. Readers who appreciate Sarah Smarsh's blend of personal experience and social analysis will enjoy Jahren's honest, down-to-earth style.
Ted Conover writes vivid narratives based on immersive journalism, creating stories that make readers feel like they're experiencing the action firsthand.
In Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing, he takes the role of a corrections officer to expose the reality of prison life and systemic issues within the justice system. If you connect with Smarsh's storytelling that uncovers overlooked realities, Conover's work will resonate with you.
Chris Hedges is a journalist whose writing directly confronts uncomfortable truths about power structures, poverty, and injustice in America. His style is straightforward, unapologetic, and passionate.
In his book Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt, Hedges vividly reports on America's forgotten "sacrifice zones," showing how communities have suffered from economic inequality and exploitation.
Readers drawn to Smarsh's powerful social critiques will appreciate Hedges' unflinching take on societal issues.
Adrian Nicole LeBlanc creates deep journalistic portraits of people often ignored or stereotyped in mainstream media. Her style is empathetic and immersive.
In Random Family, she follows the lives of individuals living in poverty, capturing their struggles and resilience over time. Just like Sarah Smarsh, LeBlanc brings humanity and dignity to her depiction of families working to survive.
Dorothy Allison writes heartfelt, honest narratives about poverty, family, and identity, often drawing on personal experiences. Her voice is strong and unafraid to show the complexity and messiness of life on the margins.
Her book Bastard Out of Carolina tells a raw story of family trauma, class struggle, and resilience in southern America. Fans of Sarah Smarsh's deep explorations of class, gender, and family will find much to admire in Allison's brave storytelling.