For the majority of Americans， hard times have long been a way of life。 Some work multiple low-wage jobs， others face the squeeze of stagnant wages and rising costs of living。 Sociologist Celine-Marie Pascale talked with people across Appalachia， at Standing Rock and Wind River Reservations and in the bustling city of Oakland， California。 Their voices offer a wide range of experiences that complicate dominant national narratives about economic struggles。

Yet Living on the Edge is about more than individual experiences。 It's about a nation in a deep economic and moral crisis。 It's about the long-standing collusion between government and corporations that prioritizes profits over people， over the environment， and over the nation's well-being。 It's about how racism， sexism， violence， and the pandemic shape daily experience in struggling communities。 And ultimately， it is a book about hope that lays out a vision for the future as honest as it is ambitious。

Most people in the book are not progressives; none are radicals。 They're hard-working people who know from experience that the current system is unsustainable。 Across the country people described the need for a living wage， accessible health care， immigration reform， and free education。 Their voices are worth listening to。