First published 2011
William T. Vollmann travels to cities and towns across the globe with a single question: Why are you poor? He seeks direct contact with those living in destitution, letting them speak in their own voices about their circumstances. The answers vary dramatically. Some cite divine will or destiny. Others blame past wrongdoing or personal failings. Still others point to systemic forces beyond their control. Vollmann records these testimonies in the speakers' own language and cultural terms, avoiding the typical distortions that plague discussions of global poverty. The resulting investigation reveals an unprecedented view of economic hardship. Through firsthand accounts, the book captures both the desperation and brutality of endemic poverty alongside moments of quiet resignation and stubborn pride. The voices Vollmann documents show the fierce misery that defines so many lives, but also the complex ways people understand and endure their situations. This direct approach gives readers access to perspectives rarely heard in debates about global inequality.
Genres: poverty, social-issues, non-fiction, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: direct-approach, firsthand-accounts
Setting: Global
Period: 21st-Century
464 pages · Paperback · Debate