I believe this should be required reading for anyone over the age of 16 in the United States. The statistics are presented in a narrative way, and historical examples are given throughout the book that back up each statistic and economic impact. Seeing this information presented in the narrative format, instead of in say a news article, helped the information sink in and really brought to light the stark economic disparities that are present in the United States. It’s hard to fathom when you don’t visually see it every day, but this book really helps put it into perspective how poverty can affect literally everyone, and how the systems in place make it difficult to rise out of poverty. Not only does it touch on the economic impact of poverty, not just on the poor but on the communities surrounding each pocket, but it touches on the health and education impacts as well.