This richly creative book, the work of a uniquely original political writer, takes a new look at world poverty. Wealth and poverty are inseparable. It may comfort the poor to believe "the rich are not happy." But is it true? Strong evidence exists that the rich too suffer from the relationship of injustice, albeit in a different way. Seabrook explains the broad effects of poverty, including crime and the fear of crime, the traffic in people and drugs, and the degradation of the natural world. He examines the phrase "A humanity wasted, in one way or another, by poverty or excess." This is not a figure of speech, he concludes. It refers to the costs of poverty for both the poor and the rich. --- from the publisher |
