In The Working Poor: Invisible in America, David K. Shipler reveals the struggles of low-wage workers and migrant laborers who fuel America's prosperity yet remain trapped in poverty. Through individual stories, Shipler examines interconnected factors—financial instability, exploitative work conditions, lack of skills, family challenges, and inadequate education—arguing for comprehensive, intersectional remedies to address poverty effectively. The book includes sensitive topics such as abuse, addiction, and trauma.

David K. Shipler's The Working Poor provides a compelling and thorough examination of America's low-income workers. Reviewers praise its detailed narratives and insightful analysis, although some note it can be overwhelming due to the extensive focus on hardship. The book is celebrated for compassionate storytelling and raising awareness, though it leaves some desiring more solutions.

Readers who appreciate meticulously researched social issues and human stories would enjoy The Working Poor by David K. Shipler. It appeals to those engaged by works like Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and Matthew Desmond's Evicted, offering a deep dive into the struggles of America's low-wage earners.

Informative / Challenging / Melancholic / Contemplative / Unnerving

- The Working Poor was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, highlighting its impact and importance in discussions about poverty in America.
- Author David K. Shipler has won the Pulitzer Prize before, in 1987, for Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land, showcasing his skill in addressing complex social issues.

**David K. Shipler**  
A distinguished journalist and author who records the conversational nature of his interactions with empathy and occasional humor, focusing on the lives of various individuals.

**Caroline Payne**  
A hard-working New Hampshire Wal-Mart employee who struggles with poverty and personal hardships, including caring for a special needs daughter.

**Brenda St. Laurence**  
A case-worker and home-worker for young mothers who instills values of discipline and frugality, showing a balancing act of firmness and kindness.

**Ann Brash**  
A low-paid book editor from a middle-class background who faces poverty following a divorce but prioritizes her children's education.

**Tom and Kara King**  
A couple who, despite facing personal and financial struggles, remain deeply committed to each other and their family, exemplifying resilience and love.

**Peaches**  
A pseudonym for Celestine Travers, a woman who overcomes a difficult past and gains confidence and skills through employment training programs.

**Leary Brock**  
A determined woman from Washington, D.C. who enters rehabilitation to overcome addiction and achieves success and independence through employment.

David K. Shipler

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Preface-Introduction	

The Working Poor Preface-Introduction	 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 1-2

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Chapters 3-5	

The Working Poor Chapters 3-5	 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-8

The Working Poor Chapters 6-8 Summary & Analysis

Chapter 9-Epilogue	

The Working Poor Chapter 9-Epilogue	 Summary & Analysis

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The Working Poor: Invisible in America

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