Books of the Year

Books of the Year
Books of the Year

2011-2013 UAA/APU Books of the Year

MONEY AND MORALITY

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis

AND

The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David Shipler

Together these books capture people in the economic extremes of our society--the rich and the poor. In America, where "everything has its price," money and morality define our incomes, lifestyles, and personal responsibilities. These Books of the Year help us understand our assumptions, and the money the role money plays in the decisions of each of us make.

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine

The Big Short

The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis offers an engaging explanation of the inner workings of the financial crisis of 2008, and the people who actually made money from the disaster. This story of the crash of the U.S. financial markets is told with piercing candor, revealing the lives and decisions of those responsible for the crisis, exposing the business climate the decisions were made in, and the devastating consequences to unknowing individuals and communities.  It challenges us to think about the moral dilemmas associated with “playing the markets.”

 

The Working Poor: Invisible in America

Working Poor

The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler
tells of the challenges low-income workers face as they struggle to support themselves and their families. America has developed an economic system with: government programs intended to help the poor but that often create barriers to financial stability; industries built to make money from economically disadvantaged people; and individuals who struggle to make responsible choices with very few resources. Through personal interviews and careful analysis of individual, corporate, and governmental responsibilities, Shipler offers insights and recommendations that challenge prevailing beliefs. 

Quicklinks

Chapter Summaries and Discussion Questions for The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David Shipler

Curriculum Ideas

Upcoming Events

 

Of Interest

A Video Clip from The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
World of Class Warfare - The Poor's Free Ride Is Over
The government could raise $700 billion by either taking half of everything earned by the bottom 50% or by raising the marginal tax rate on the top two percent.

An Interactive Map of Employment Trends
Explore each state's job picture. 

An Interactive Map of Housing Trends
Explore each state's mortgage crisis picture.