In this thought-provoking historical and economic analysis, Laurel A. Rockefeller takes on poverty culture head-on, exploring what it means to be poor in the United States. She also takes a look at how America's closest, and much more economically successful, allies (Canada, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom) take care of their poor.

Student - Teacher edition adds questions to the front of each of the book's three parts to guide the reading experience with focus on reading comprehension and critical thinking skills.