Best Sociology of Class Books of 2025

This #1 New York Times bestseller by Matthew Desmond offers a thought-provoking and compassionate argument about why poverty persists in America. Through original reporting and research, Desmond exposes how the affluent knowingly and unknowingly exploit the poor, keeping them in a cycle of poverty. He calls on readers to become "poverty abolitionists" and work towards collective belonging and shared prosperity. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the root causes of poverty in America and how we can work towards ending it.

This book, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Gretchen Morgenson and financial policy analyst Joshua Rosner, delves into the world of private equity and its negative impact on the American economy. They expose how a small group of financiers use excessive debt and dubious practices to undermine the nation's economy for their own gain. The authors investigate some of the biggest names in private equity, revealing how they buy companies, load them with debt, and then bleed them of assets and profits. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dark side of American capitalism.

The Millionaire Next Door by Taylor Trade Publishing is a bestselling book that identifies seven common traits of wealthy Americans. The authors debunk the myth that most millionaires inherit their wealth and provide tips for anyone with a steady job to amass wealth through frugality. The book is a fascinating examination of the affluent in American society, and it's a primer for those who want to become wealthy. The writing is engaging, and the data-driven insights are eye-opening. Overall, The Millionaire Next Door is a must-read for anyone interested in wealth management.

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Isabel Wilkerson that examines America's unspoken caste system. Through immersive storytelling and deep research, Wilkerson explores how this rigid hierarchy of human rankings has shaped America's history and continues to influence people's lives and behavior today. The book has received critical acclaim and was named #1 nonfiction book of the year by Time. Overall, the book is a thought-provoking and eye-opening read that sheds light on a hidden phenomenon in America and its connection to caste systems in other parts of the world.

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, written by Matthew Desmond, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning book that follows the stories of eight families in Milwaukee as they struggle to keep a roof over their heads. The book offers a wrenching and revelatory account of the centrality of home and how its absence can lead to poverty and economic exploitation. The book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the devastating problem of poverty in twenty-first-century America. Overall, this book is a heart-wrenching and eye-opening account of the realities of poverty and eviction, and it offers fresh ideas for solving this problem.

Rough Sleepers is a New York Times bestseller book that tells the story of Dr. Jim O'Connell's mission to provide healthcare and support to Boston's homeless population. Tracy Kidder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, follows O'Connell and his team as they navigate the city, offering medical care, socks, soup, empathy, humor, and friendship to some of the city's most endangered citizens. Kidder explores how a small but dedicated group of people have changed countless lives by facing one of American society's difficult problems instead of looking away. This book is a powerful and inspiring read that leaves the reader in awe of the human spirit and inspired to do better.

The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee is a thought-provoking exploration of the cost of racism for everyone, not just people of color. Through personal anecdotes and data, McGhee highlights how racism has contributed to the economic and social issues faced by society. She also provides a potential way forward by challenging the zero-sum paradigm and promoting unity. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the intersectionality of racism and economics.

Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society by Dr. Arline T. Geronimus is a monumental book that explores the ways in which systemic injustice erodes the health of marginalized people. Based on more than 30 years of research, Geronimus coined the term “weathering” to describe the effects of systemic oppression on the body. She proposes solutions and offers a roadmap for hope. Weathering shifts the paradigm, shining a light on the topic and providing a new perspective on health and aging. This sociological study of medicine book is a must-read for anyone interested in public health and social justice.

Discrimination and Disparities by Thomas Sowell examines the origins of economic disparities and challenges the idea that different economic outcomes can be explained by any one factor, be it discrimination, exploitation, or genetics. The book analyzes the human consequences of prevailing social visions of these disparities and the policies based on that vision. The author presents a well-researched and thought-provoking argument that is both accessible and relevant. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complex issues surrounding economic disparities.

Adrift: America in 100 Charts offers a unique and urgent examination of the future of the United States. Author Scott Galloway uses 100 charts to tell the story of America from 1945 to the present day, explaining how crises such as Jim Crow, World War II, and the Stock Market Crash of 2008, along with the escalating power of technology, an entrenched white patriarchy, and the socio-economic effects of the pandemic, have brought the nation to its current state. Galloway offers his take on where America is headed and what it will take to keep up with the fast and violent changes of the new world. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of the country.