I am not entirely certain about what to say about what I just read.  I don't have any questions about it, as much of what Shipler mentions here was covered in Categorically Unequal, but I will say that this is one completely depressing book.

If I am just to reflect on the emotional aspect of what I just read it really is quite awful.  I want to believe that these sorts of stories don't exist, and that we live in a society where the stories of Dawn, and Caroline are just entirely unacceptable.  However, after reading the first to chapters of The Working Poor this is obviously not the case.

I just think about all the people in Fayette for whom this sort of thing must be their life, and I am just saddened that I have been so blind.  I mean, I know people are poor and struggling, that can be seen by a walk though many parts of town, but to know that these are indeed the stories of the people surrounding you, and knowing that it is, to a large extent, entirely out of your control is wildly depressing.

One thing I would be interested in seeing are some numbers on how many people live these stories.  I know it is probably a large number of people, but I still would like to know specifics.  I am more than certain you will provide some lovely graphs to document these struggles numerically.

I would also quickly note how refreshing it is to read stories without lots of numbers in the way.  Not that these stories are at all good, but I just love the way which Shipler goes about this.

Excited to learn more,
Joe