Unlikely Fame Poor People Who Made History [Hardcover]

This unique book depicts the stories of Americans born in poverty, who achieved national or international fame. Accessible to students and lay readers, this scholarly study describes poverty as a disability that typically stunts important areas of growth in childhood. Wagner shows how poverty hampers individuals and groups for their entire lives, even many of those who emerge from poverty. Examples of individuals with difficult childhoods who faced residual lifelong challenges are presented in the stories of 27 Americans, including athlete Babe Ruth, birth control advocate Margaret Sanger, singer Billie Holliday, author Jack London, actress Marilyn Monroe, black leader Malcolm X, singer Johnny Cash, comedian Richard Pryor, author Stephen King, and entertainer Oprah Winfrey. In over 200 engaging and accessible pages, Unlikely Fame yields insight into successful individuals and how they coped, adapted and ultimately achieved success.Introduction 1. Poverty as a Serious Disability 2. Childhood Poverty: Abandonment, Loss, Hurt, And Shame 3. Hedonism, Pain and Suffering in Adult Life 4. Class Consciousness 5. Rebels Against Authority 6. Fame and Poverty 7. Contemporary Fame & Poverty Bibliographic Essay for Chapter 1 Bibliography
Has it gotten harder for Americans from poor backgrounds to become famous? In a new book, Unlikely Fame: Poor People Who Made History, historian David Wagner suggests fewer famous people come from poverty today than did in the past.
Huffington Post

David Wagner is a foremost scholar on issues of poverty, homelessness, and social welfare policy.
Z Magazine

Informed and informative, Unlikely Fame: Poor People Who Made History is a fascinating and informative read from beginning to end. It is a unique and seminal work that is tlã%