Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women

Batya Ungar-Sargon offers an intimate, deeply reported exploration of America’s working class, revealing their struggles amidst economic insecurity and political neglect. Traveling across the country, she interviews workers from diverse backgrounds—cleaners, truck drivers, healthcare aides, and more—capturing their hopes, frustrations, and ideas for improving their lives. The book combines personal stories with data and expert analysis to highlight a growing class divide and the erosion of economic security for those without college degrees. Ungar-Sargon argues that America has broken its social contract with its laboring class and calls for renewed respect for work and practical reforms to restore opportunity and dignity. This compelling narrative challenges elites to reconnect with the working class and offers a hopeful vision for reclaiming the American Dream.