White trash : the 400-year untold history of class in America

This book focuses on the role of class in US history, starting in the colonial period and moving to the present day. Probably the most interesting chapters concern the colonial and early 20th century periods, with the founding of different southern colonies and their radically different approaches to white class differences and the role of eugenics in defining modern stereotypes about poor, rural white people standing out. It should be noted that this book mostly focuses on class as it applies to whoever was defined as "white" in a given time period, which is at times limiting and is often shockingly glib about the challenges that Black people, Native Americans, and other unfairly discriminated against groups faced. Still, the unique nature of this history demands to be read. Highly recommend

A historical view of the White American underclass mostly using the words of the elite who are vested in perpetuating the economic and social segregation.

Nobody liked this book. It was overly long and repetitive, badly in need of a good editor. It flipped between a factual historical account and standing on a soapbox spouting unsubstantiated opinions. It presented a scathing picture of a long-term underclass in this 'classless' society, but gave not a hint of how to solve the problem.

But.

It triggered so much discussion that the librarian had co come in and kick us out so they could close up.

The author lays out an extensively well-researched argument that from our earliest colonial days, America's ruling class has intentionally created and maintained a lower class that is both necessary for making the country run and looked upon as deserving of scorn: Millions of failed Horatio Algers, the so-called "white trash." But if you're already on board with the idea (as I was) that poverty is a trap, and that it's impossible to pull oneself up by the bootstraps when one doesn't even have boots, it can be a bit of a tedious read. I'm glad it's been written, and I think it should be required reading for college freshmen, but for adults looking for non-fiction pleasure reading, it might be a bit too mired in historical detail.