An excellent account of the welfare system in the United States.It debunks many of the most commonly believed myths about welfare.It is an essential read for anyone interested in welfare reform. -- Pat Schroeder, former U.S. Congresswoman

This acclaimed book powerfully depicts a side of the welfare experience rarely seen, dispelling the myth that only an urban underclass-the center of most policy debate-struggles on welfare. Rank's juxtaposition of numbers and faces demonstrates that welfare recipients share much in common with the rest of the population.