Book description
An NPR Favorite Book of the Year
"Breaks new ground on social and educational questions of great import."
-Washington Post
"An essential work, humane and candid, that challenges and expands our understanding of the lives of contemporary college students."
-Paul Tough, author of Helping Children Succeed
"Eye-opening...Brings home the pain…
- Coming soon!
- Coming soon!
Why read it?
1 author picked The Privileged Poor as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
US elite universities are both an engine of inequality and an environment where inequality is particularly evident.
In this book Harvard professor Abraham Jack explores how low-income students fare when accepted to a prestigious and expensive college.
The book distinguishes between the “privileged poor” who attended private high schools before arriving to campus and the “double disadvantaged” which come from underfunded, state schools.
Through many interviews and everyday examples, Abraham Jack shows how inequality is both about income and social capital and demonstrates the complexity of creating a more just society in a country like the United States.
Although the…
From D.'s list on inequality as one of our significant challenges.
If you love The Privileged Poor...
These Blue Mountains
A moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.
German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda…
Want books like The Privileged Poor?
Our community of 13,000+ authors has personally recommended 19 books like The Privileged Poor.
Share your top 3 reads of 2025!
And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.
1,395
readers submitted
so far, will you?
📚 If you like The Privileged Poor, you might also like...
In Bad Faith
Nelson West, a former Chicago homicide detective, is hired by wealthy heir Lionel Bing to discreetly help “fix” scandals and legal problems for his father’s wealthy friends.
Bing, a brilliant but troubled investigator, suffers from PTSD symptoms as a result of being kidnapped and witnessing the murder of his mother…
Your Sun Will Rise Again
Your Sun Will Rise Again is a powerful collection of poetic reflections on hope, resilience, and the human spirit. Written with sincerity and depth, these poems speak directly to those navigating life’s challenges, offering comfort, clarity, and quiet strength in difficult moments.
Through simple yet profound language, the book reminds…
