The book features a detailed table of contents that outlines its structure and key topics. Each section is organized to provide clarity and facilitate navigation through the material, making it easier for readers to locate specific information. The contents reflect a comprehensive approach to the subject matter, ensuring that all relevant areas are covered systematically. This organization enhances the reader's experience by providing a clear roadmap of the book’s themes and chapters.
Poverty and Power asserts that American poverty is a structural problem resulting from failings in our social system, rather than individual failings of the poor. The second edition has been revised throughout with new statistical information, analysis of the recent recession, the Obama presidency, increasing political polarization, and more.
Focusing on the foundational thinkers of classical social theory, the book explores the ideas of Marx, Durkheim, and Weber within their historical contexts. It offers a comprehensive overview of each theorist's contributions and facilitates a dialogue among them on four enduring issues that resonate in contemporary society. This approach not only highlights their individual perspectives but also emphasizes their relevance to modern social challenges.