Breadline USA: The Hidden Scandal of American Hunger and How to Fix It

by Sasha Abramsky

Twenty-five million Americans―nearly 9 percent of the U.S. population―rely on food pantries. Another 13 million aren’t linked to a food distribution network, and 14 million children are at risk of going hungry on any given day. Moreover, the faltering economy is increasing the number of American families that don’t know where their next meals are coming from.



Breadline USA treats this crisis not only as matter of failed policies, but also as a portrait of real human suffering. Investigative reporter Sasha Abramsky focuses attention on the people behind the statistics―the families caught up in circumstances beyond their control. Breadline USA is a vivid reminder of the fate to which many more Americans may be subject without urgent action.

Genres: Poverty, Nonfiction

209 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

About the author

Sasha Abramsky studied politics, philosophy, and economics at Oxford University. He is now a freelance journalist and senior fellow at Demos who reports on political personalities and cultural trends.

His work has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, The Nation, The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Guardian, and Mother Jones, among other publications.

He lives in Sacramento, California.

Reviews

[Wordwizard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting analysis of hunger and poverty in the US. I think the writer was a bit twee in recording his own experiment with eating on a low-income budget; I'm sure it was a huge consciousness-raiser for him, but I'm not sure it was worth sharing with the readers. It makes him seem kind of clueless and condescending. Also, the fact that he went to a food pantry as part of this experiment--when there were people who really needed the food--upsets me.

But the actual journalism was good.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish that I had a better understanding of economics, so that I could have gotten more out of this book, but even taking that into account, this book is overwhelming. It is, thank goodness, very well written; if it weren't, the topic is so sad that I wouldn't have been able to finish it. In 2008, the USDA put 35 million people in the US in the "food insecure" category, 10 million of which had "very low food security," which means that they missed meals on a regular basis, often so their kids could eat. The food that comes from food banks, welcome though it is for these people, is often of low nutritional value, and often outdated to the point of being inedible. In parts of the country, especially in some counties in states that provide poor services and have not established a minimum wage that is higher than the federal one (like Idaho and Oklahoma), 100% of the kids in school get both breakfast and lunch free--and for some of those kids, those are the only meals they get. It is a heart-breaking situation and I am embarrassed to live in a country that allows it to happen. I wish everyone would read this book, and maybe together we could change things.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful look at the history of hunger in America particularly amongst the working class just trying to stay afloat.
I still think the real problem here is the health care system in America. Without the outlandish completely unfordable and often unattainable health care many people described in this book would have a lot easier time in life with the bare necessities like eating. Sasha does touch on this and outlines it as part of each person's story, but the main focus of the book is eating.
This is an issue we should all be aware of no matter what the root cause. I definitely recommend.

[Books Inc. in Mountain View · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a wake-up call for the country to recognize the extent of pain and need among those who have fallen through the cracks in the American dream--the working poor. Through first-person experience and copious research, Abramsky introduces us to those who cannot survive without the help and political will of all.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made me feel so guilty to never have had to feel food insecurity. I just couldn't imagine. It's hard to believe there are still people in America so poor they are undernourished and can't afford any kind of food. We usually think of those in poverty just not being able to access the more healthy foods.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important to read in today's world, where the haves are still taking from the have-nots.

[Kristina Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written book on food insecurity in the U.S.

[Denali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up in anticipation of Abramsky's new book. Includes some strong discussions about the role of energy prices, food distribution networks, and wage structure in modern American hunger.

[Oriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, really depressing look at the 'new poverty' plaguing our country.