First published 1996
Social policy analyst Charles Murray travels from America to Britain on an investigative mission. He arrives describing himself as a visitor from a plague area, seeking to determine whether a social disease has crossed the Atlantic. Murray's controversial thesis centers on the underclass as a distinct type of poverty rather than simply extreme economic hardship. He argues this poverty stems from deviant attitudes toward parenting, employment, and criminal behavior. During his 1989 visit, Murray compares British and American social conditions, documenting his findings for The Sunday Times. He returns in 1993 to assess the progression of these social problems. Critics challenge his conclusions, creating heated debate about the nature and causes of persistent poverty. This omnibus edition compiles Murray's original investigations alongside commentary from his detractors, presenting multiple perspectives on a divisive social issue. The work includes statistical updates and serves as a comprehensive examination of underclass theory and its real world applications.
Genres: social-science, politics, social-issues, non-fiction, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: investigative-journalism
Setting: America, Britain
Period: 1989, 1993
Paperback · IEA Health & Welfare Unit/Sunday Times