The Rent Eats First: Poems

by Eric Sirota

Eric Sirota’s The Rent Eats First snaps at capitalist systems and the so-called “American Dream” with honest anger and sharp satire.

With a captivating blend of serious urgency and sarcastic wit, The Rent Eats First moves through personal stories and cultural moments to develop a broad picture of systemic inequality. Sirota interweaves his personal experiences as a public interest lawyer, representing low income tenants, with biting critique on the broader social and governmental systems that breed disparities. This collection reminds us that the political is emotional as Sirota shares personal struggles with mental health, self-image, and relationships in the face of social crisis.

Through dynamic and poignant form, Sirota conveys the chaos of an ineffectual, discriminatory system. An earnest look at the difficulties of fighting a system from within, The Rent Eats First is a collection that needs to be read.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2024

Reviews

[Hannah Showalter · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5! had the pleasure of hearing eric read from this book this week and had to buy it immediately. he’s an incredible performer! love this collection and its focus on capitalism and the hot pile of garbage that is america.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was fantastic.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I usually don’t read things like this… but damn, I am glad that I did. Reading The Rent Eats First was like crawling into the deepest part of a housing lawyer’s brain. I am in no form of way “political” but this book had me wanting to beat the shit out of capitalism… or maybe my frontal lobe is finally developing? Eric Sirota took the voices and thoughts in his head and put it on paper. I’m also fortunate to have received this copy and was able to be the first to review this on here. Well done 👏🏼


Quotes from the book that changed my brain chemistry:

• “The only difference between a sword and a plowshare is what you’re cutting”

• “Everything the light touches used to be ours. Now, foreclosure signs turn our neighborhoods into metaphors.”

• “But I guess this is the good part of capitalism — using paid advertising to convince Playboi Carti fans not to chew their faces into ancient skulls.”

• “This man does not know me. Knows my name but not the seas it’s traveled.”

• “You only get good news from your life insurance company when you’re dead.”

[Michelle M Victora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection feels deeply personal and very acerbic :) I've seen Eric perform "From the Perspective of Chanukah" and "[written in real time]", both of which I love. New favorite is "Holy Fucking Shit! Comcast Has the Nuclear Launch Codes!"

I will admit some of the religious, legal, and political poems are somewhat over my head. Looking forward to re-reading and sharing with people.

[Frank Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure this is the first volume of poetry I have ever read. (Shakespeare's plays do not count.)

This book rocks. It's a very personal ride though the inner turmoil and outer eloquence of a housing attorney/rapper/poet. There are poems about six current justices of the Supreme Court. That has to be a record.

It is funny and clever and original. I laughed out loud several times and winced in empathy just as often.

Buy it. Read it. Tell your friends how cool it is.

[Amanda Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
This book had some good points but at times was a bit hard to follow and understand.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway! A decent little volume of poems, but nothing spectacular. Perhaps hearing the author perform his work would add more poignancy to them. Solid 3 stars

[Randi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super validating about the hellscape we currently live in, but I don't feel it said anything new or groundbreaking, unfortunately.

[D.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every poem in this book was a banger!

[Hillary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. What a collection.

[Greg H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need more time to process and write an appropriate response to this work of art. Will revisit.