Newman is a gifted writer ... As she has done in her previous work, Newman creates vivid individual portraits in her latest book to humanize her analysis ... Newman’s compelling portrait of the grim state of retirement security in the United States should serve as a catalyst for major reforms ... But perhaps well-grounded and lucid chronicles like Newman’s can help to build the sense of urgency and shared purpose that will be needed to turn the tide.
Paired chapters contrasting impoverished Opelousas, LA, and middle-class Ogden, UT reveal striking similarities and vastly different outcomes between these two communities that share faith-based and familial connectivity, but diverge in policy, infrastructure, and the ravages of generational poverty and institutional racism. This bleak but not hopeless exploration concludes with a succinct call for pension reform ... Strongly recommended for policymakers, business and nonprofit leaders, and general readers concerned (and who isn't?) about their retirement.
Sociologist Newman delves into the uncertainty confronting today’s retiring workers, using personal stories to explore the problems faced by blue-collared Teamsters, white-collared United Airlines workers, and Detroit’s municipal employees ... This well-argued study offers a broad look at the insecurity threatening generations to come and possible solutions to this complex issue.
Newman...turns in this compassionate study to the erosion of that formerly reliable social safety net ... Newman’s reportage moves gracefully between pension instability’s effects upon individual lives and the societal consequences. This is an empathetic and revealing investigation.
A clear presentation of the retirement problem in the United States ... The stories sometimes drag, but the facts are undeniable and well-presented, and the message is clear.
