51 pages • 1 hour read
Nancy IsenbergWhite Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2016A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
White Trash by Nancy Isenberg examines America's 400-year history of class hierarchy, focusing on the white poor and their systemic marginalization by the upper and middle classes. The book reveals that America, contrary to the ideal of equality of opportunity, has consistently retained an entrenched class structure where poor white individuals have been relegated to undesirable lands and subjected to degrading stereotypes.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Nancy Isenberg's White Trash has garnered praise for its thorough exploration of class and race in American history. Critics laud its meticulous research and provocative arguments, though some note its dense prose and a challenging narrative. Overall, the book is celebrated for its comprehensive analysis and compelling insights into the overlooked segments of American society.
Who Should Read White Trash?
A reader who would enjoy White Trash by Nancy Isenberg is likely interested in American history, sociology, and class studies. Fans of Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance or Evicted by Matthew Desmond would appreciate Isenberg's critical analysis of class dynamics in the U.S. and her compelling narrative on the marginalized “poor white” population through centuries.