Heartland

A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth

By: Sarah Smarsh

Narrated by: Sarah Smarsh

*Finalist for the National Book Award*
*Finalist for the Kirkus Prize*
*Instant New York Times Bestseller*
*Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR, New York Post, BuzzFeed, Shelf Awareness, Bustle, and Publishers Weekly*

An essential read for our times: an eye-opening memoir of working-class poverty in America that will deepen our understanding of the ways in which class shapes our country and “a deeply humane memoir that crackles with clarifying insight”.*

Sarah Smarsh was born a fifth generation Kansas wheat farmer on her paternal side, and the product of generations of teen mothers on her maternal side. Through her experiences growing up on a farm thirty miles west of Wichita, we are given a unique and essential look into the lives of poor and working class Americans living in the heartland.

During Sarah’s turbulent childhood in Kansas in the 1980s and 1990s, she enjoyed the freedom of a country childhood, but observed the painful challenges of the poverty around her; untreated medical conditions for lack of insurance or consistent care, unsafe job conditions, abusive relationships, and limited resources and information that would provide for the upward mobility that is the American Dream. By telling the story of her life and the lives of the people she loves with clarity and precision but without judgement, Smarsh challenges us to look more closely at the class divide in our country.

Beautifully written, in a distinctive voice, Heartland combines personal narrative with powerful analysis and cultural commentary, challenging the myths about people thought to be less because they earn less.

“Heartland is one of a growing number of important works—including Matthew Desmond’s Evicted and Amy Goldstein’s Janesville—that together merit their own section in nonfiction aisles across the country: America’s postindustrial decline...Smarsh shows how the false promise of the ‘American dream’ was used to subjugate the poor. It’s a powerful mantra” *(The New York Times Book Review).

Changes your perspective

This is one of the most profound books I have ever “read.” It made me think, deeply, about myself, about my views, about my judgements, about my stereotypes, and most importantly, about others, specifically those who live in the fly over states. I hope it has changed me, or has started a process of changes, towards more humility, kindness, and tolerance. Time will tell. I bought Heartland in hard copy form, as a reminder of my experience while listening to it. Hoping that helps.

Poetic and Historical Narrative

This was a poetic interweaving of family narrative and historical-political culture that thoughtfully tells a story of poverty is that familiar yet unknown. Smarsh is a brilliant writer who writes artfully and honestly. Everyone will be better for having read this book because of its authenticity, honesty, and compelling insight into life, work, struggle, and family.

Powerful & Eloquent. Much needed perspective!

I liked the unvarnished perspective of the Author and a voice for the reality of the socioeconomic class of our society.

I have never written a review before, this book so deeply resonated with me, that I want to share what a great read it is.

Understanding the Poor, WoWorking class, white girl - from rural America

In my opinion, everyone should read this book. But, this is especially true for anyone who has gone from rural America - to the city, in order to become college educated. Sarah Smarsh eloquently, yet realistically recounts the plight of the poor, working class, white - girl from rural America.

Further, the impacts of poverty on rural America are written about in a down-to-earth style. The imagery depicts the depth of social and economic struggles experienced among the working-class poor; a group often ignored in social scientific work.

For example, Sarah Smarsh explains the phenomena of “moving frequently” among rural, poor women in an illuminating way ....“we had moved 61 times by high school.”

Likewise, the author explains ‘the art of getting married’ among poor women, while simultaneously illuminating how poor children adapt by learning to distinguish a home (internal sense of security - permanent) versus a house (structure - temporary).

And finally, Smarsh was spot on in her observations and descriptions of the chronic health issues plaguing the poor. Of particular accuracy, was the prevalence of back/feet problems among poor women. I literally laughed out-loud at the relatableness - even the names seemed similar!

There was another major part of Sarah Smarsh’s Heartland story that I truly enjoyed - the part about “I’m a professor now.”

Here, two compelling scenes include one in which the author describes driving down a dirt road, during weekends returning home from college. And the other impressionable scene had to do with the intense experience the author goes through in coming to understand what being in a new class means after completing college. In my opinion, anyone who has experienced this profound transformation, will feel a sense of unity and comradeship in hearing this story.

I highly recommend this book and thank the author for “telling it like it is!”
Rachael Smith

Poor in America? You still have value.

Loved it because it is a variation on the common story of life as a poor American