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In the Shadow of the Poorhouse: A Social History of Welfare in America
With welfare reform a burning political issue, this special anniversary edition of the classic history of welfare in America has been revised and updated to include the latest bipartisan debates on how to “end welfare as we know it.”In the Shadow of the Poorhouse examines the origins of social welfare, both public and private, from the days of the colonial poorhouse through the current tragedy of the homeless. The book explains why such a highly criticized system persists. Katz explores the relationship between welfare and municipal reform; the role of welfare capitalism, eugenics, and social insurance in the reorganization of the labor market; the critical connection between poverty and politics in the rise of the New Deal welfare state; and how the War on Poverty of the ’60s became the war on welfare of the ’80s.
411 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 17, 2021
2 stars feels harsh for such an incredibly well researched text. But, this book was framed for me as "one of the most foundation social policy historical texts." However, this book should be held as no more than a reference text. Maybe a chapter or two will be interesting for your personal research, but do not read this book cover to cover.
Goodreads friends, I know you are tired of hearing me go on about accessibility. I have to say it though, this book is considered one of the more accessible social policy historical pieces. Of course, it was still incredibly dense and inaccessible for an average reader interested in welfare policy.
"Poorhouse" also lacked a racial and capitalist analysis that felt...glaringly absent. If you'd like to read a welfare policy text, stick with Piven and Cloward "Regulating the Poor."
Goodreads friends, I know you are tired of hearing me go on about accessibility. I have to say it though, this book is considered one of the more accessible social policy historical pieces. Of course, it was still incredibly dense and inaccessible for an average reader interested in welfare policy.
"Poorhouse" also lacked a racial and capitalist analysis that felt...glaringly absent. If you'd like to read a welfare policy text, stick with Piven and Cloward "Regulating the Poor."
October 18, 2010
I only read the first half of this book. I was hoping for more discussion on the challenges faced by the poor, instead of the emphasis on tracing the dominating political philosophies towards welfare. The concepts could have been presented much more concisely as well.
March 4, 2026
Nearly every history of welfare book cites Katz, so I figured I'd finally read this book. I felt "ok" about this book. It was dense at parts, and light at others. I thought he got lost in the second half of the book as he rammed more and more stats, dates, figures, and actors down the readers throats (or perhaps I felt this way because I had to start reading faster and wasn't able to take everything in as well as intended).
What I took away most form Katz's book is the continuous and deliberate decision to make welfare in America rest on a series of purposes; the relief of misery, preservation of social order, regulation of labor market, and mobilization of political power.
Katz's final chapter bluntly explains this:
"in a nation as smart, inventive, and rich as America, the continuation of widespread poverty is a choice, not a necessity" (334)
I focused more on the first half of the book, as my research favors the 19th century, and I was particularly looking for significant discussion of the inheritance of Poor Laws, structure of welfare, and specific discussion of children. On the end point, I was let down (my fault, I should have known). But nonetheless, it was certainly useful. I'll be citing his earlier chapters in the near future.
What I took away most form Katz's book is the continuous and deliberate decision to make welfare in America rest on a series of purposes; the relief of misery, preservation of social order, regulation of labor market, and mobilization of political power.
Katz's final chapter bluntly explains this:
"in a nation as smart, inventive, and rich as America, the continuation of widespread poverty is a choice, not a necessity" (334)
I focused more on the first half of the book, as my research favors the 19th century, and I was particularly looking for significant discussion of the inheritance of Poor Laws, structure of welfare, and specific discussion of children. On the end point, I was let down (my fault, I should have known). But nonetheless, it was certainly useful. I'll be citing his earlier chapters in the near future.
December 21, 2022
Katz's argument is that the New Deal and Great Society programs of the FDR, JFK, and LBJ administrations did not go far enough to create an effective American welfare state. That failure left the country with a "semiwelfare" state that has done some good things but is overall a disappointing failure.
Katz approached the history of poverty in America from a decidedly liberal point of view. Every problem must have a federal government solution. He also had no apparent understanding of basic economics but fell back time and again on typical Keynesian tropes.
The book is filled with random statistics and meaningless comparisons that the author tried to cobble together to support his narrative. In my view, this book is a great example of how liberal arts in the academy have come off the rails.
Katz approached the history of poverty in America from a decidedly liberal point of view. Every problem must have a federal government solution. He also had no apparent understanding of basic economics but fell back time and again on typical Keynesian tropes.
The book is filled with random statistics and meaningless comparisons that the author tried to cobble together to support his narrative. In my view, this book is a great example of how liberal arts in the academy have come off the rails.
March 4, 2023
The Sentences on In the Shadow of the Poorhouse by Michael B. Katz
I really enjoyed this book as a history of American welfare.
One thing that you can really trace is this ebb and flow of who is responsible for people and how they should be aided.
My main wish is that this were more up to date since it ends right as Clinton ended “Welfare As We Know It”.
I really enjoyed this book as a history of American welfare.
One thing that you can really trace is this ebb and flow of who is responsible for people and how they should be aided.
My main wish is that this were more up to date since it ends right as Clinton ended “Welfare As We Know It”.
December 15, 2019
A must-read. A thorough examination of the history of the politics of public social welfare in America.
December 3, 2024
Essential reading on welfare policy in the US
March 28, 2026
Very interesting but is this book is very dry
October 29, 2012
Somewhat academic, but thorough history of social policy concerning relief for the poor or what we now call "welfare." Starts from colonial times and works its way to the mid 1990s. The theme is that we as a society has essentially changed little in our attitudes and our underlying agenda in providing money or in kind services to the "deserving" and "undeserving" poor. The books points out the limits and mistakes of relief policy even in the most liberal times of history, during the New Deal and the Great Society periods. I wish it devoted more space to a model policy solutuon. The books seemed satisfied to stay in the safe ground of historical analysis.
February 26, 2017
I happen to be obsessed with poverty, and with the ageless question it poses: Why? Is it systemic? Is it circumstantial? Behavioral? A bit of all three?
This book, written for policy students, is a good, readable primer on the public assistance "system" in North America, and demonstrates that societies have grappled with the question and problems of poverty as long as there have been societies. Each generation has tried to solve it using a different tact, a different moral viewpoint, with predictable results. The poor, as it says in the Good Book, will always be with us.
This book, written for policy students, is a good, readable primer on the public assistance "system" in North America, and demonstrates that societies have grappled with the question and problems of poverty as long as there have been societies. Each generation has tried to solve it using a different tact, a different moral viewpoint, with predictable results. The poor, as it says in the Good Book, will always be with us.
July 20, 2010
All I remember of this book was 1) sometimes it got pretty dense (so if you want lots of detail on American welfare programs--private and public--this is the book) and 2) sometimes the author got quite shrill. You definitely knew which camp he was in, which is kind of my same camp, but that shrillness I mentioned even turned me off.
August 6, 2007
Provides an excellent history of social programs designed to deter, motivate, or help the poor.
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January 15, 2010sociology,American history
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews