A powerful blend of narrative and reporting reveals Americas systemic racial and income inequality, spotlighting essential workers and vulnerable communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and argues for a future where no one is deemed disposable amid persistent social injustices.
In this barn burner of a book (The New York Times Book Review) New York magazine senior writer Sarah Jones blends personal stories and in-depth reporting to expose the harsh reality of Americas culture of inequality and the devastating impact of the pandemic on our nations most vulnerable people.
In the tradition of Matthew Desmonds Evicted and Andrea Elliots Invisible Child, Disposable is a poignant exploration of Americas underclass, left vulnerable by systemic racism and capitalism. Here, Sarah Jones delves into the lives of the essential workers, seniors, and people with disabilities who were disproportionately affected by COVID-19not due to their age or profession, but because of the systemic inequality and poverty that left them exposed.
The pandemic served as a stark revelation of the true state of America, a country where the dream of prosperity is a distant mirage for millions. Jones argues that the pandemic didnt create these dynamics but rather revealed the existing social mobility issues and wealth gap that have long plagued the nation. Behind the staggering death toll are stories of lives lost, injustices suffered, and institutions that failed to protect their people.
Jones brings these stories to the forefront, transforming the abstract concept of the pandemic into a deeply personal and political phenomenon. Her book stands as a reminder of the lessons our country has willfully ignoredan especially stark one with Donald Trump back in the White House and further shredding the social safety net (The Washington Post).
