This was phenomenal. Even if you've seen the film, the book really brings it all to life.

The most shocking thing for me was that many of the people profiled in this book had had white collar jobs and bachelor's or even master's degrees. One was a VP at McDonald's. Another was a biology professor in California. The middle class is so fragile that a mid-life divorce or medical event, both quite normal, is enough for someone to slip downward. Without stronger national safety nets in place, it makes me uneasy to think about what kind of hellscape millennials will be facing as we enter our 60s and 70s. Even today there has been an explosion of alternative living communities, with millennials preemptively "opting out" of chasing the American dream. This was not addressed in the book, but I have no doubt that the trend will only increase going forward.

Pair with: [b:The Salt Path|38085814|The Salt Path|Raynor Winn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1520119402l/38085814._SY75_.jpg|59753071].