An Atlas of Poverty in America
An Atlas of Poverty in America: One Nation, Pulling Apart, 1960-2003
By Amy K. Glasmeier
Published by Routledge, 2006
This is a slick, full color coffeetable paperback measuring 12" by 9" (landscape format) and running to 97 pages including the index, plus a preferatory section and a CD-ROM. The pages are thick and slick and the printing is high-quality. The borders in the layout of this book are extremely narrow.
The introductory section of the book discusses in detail, among other things, statistical and conceptual issues involved in data relating to poverty. It is a good thing when a data book that is easy to use includes a discussion of methodology. The data used in the atlas come from "hundreds of publications, groups, and individuals who study the various themes.."
The book is divided into four major section: "Lived Experiences," "History of Poverty," "Distressed Regions," and "History of Poverty Policy." In the "Lived Experiences" section are such sub-sections as "Black Families at Risk," "Black Male Incarceration," "Hard Work and Low Pay Define the Lives of Hispanic Americans," "Elderly," and "Working But Poor." The "History of Poverty" section devotes a few pages to each decade from the 60's to the present. The "Distressed Regions" section focuses on U.S. regions where poverty is extremely widespread (Appalachia, The Mississippi Delta, Indian Reservations, The Border Region, etc.). The section on the history of American poverty policy is the briefest section.
The maps are mostly about 6" by 3.5" in size. They use color effectively to highlight information without distracting from it. The book communicates its information clearly and is easy to use. The methodology behind the information is also given a very sufficient discussion. The combination of those qualities makes it a good reference book for getting a geographic picture of poverty in the U.S.
By Amy K. Glasmeier
Published by Routledge, 2006
This is a slick, full color coffeetable paperback measuring 12" by 9" (landscape format) and running to 97 pages including the index, plus a preferatory section and a CD-ROM. The pages are thick and slick and the printing is high-quality. The borders in the layout of this book are extremely narrow.
The introductory section of the book discusses in detail, among other things, statistical and conceptual issues involved in data relating to poverty. It is a good thing when a data book that is easy to use includes a discussion of methodology. The data used in the atlas come from "hundreds of publications, groups, and individuals who study the various themes.."
The book is divided into four major section: "Lived Experiences," "History of Poverty," "Distressed Regions," and "History of Poverty Policy." In the "Lived Experiences" section are such sub-sections as "Black Families at Risk," "Black Male Incarceration," "Hard Work and Low Pay Define the Lives of Hispanic Americans," "Elderly," and "Working But Poor." The "History of Poverty" section devotes a few pages to each decade from the 60's to the present. The "Distressed Regions" section focuses on U.S. regions where poverty is extremely widespread (Appalachia, The Mississippi Delta, Indian Reservations, The Border Region, etc.). The section on the history of American poverty policy is the briefest section.
The maps are mostly about 6" by 3.5" in size. They use color effectively to highlight information without distracting from it. The book communicates its information clearly and is easy to use. The methodology behind the information is also given a very sufficient discussion. The combination of those qualities makes it a good reference book for getting a geographic picture of poverty in the U.S.