[4] Kirkus Reviews wrote positively about Desmond's policy proposals, describing the book as a "clearly delineated guide to finally eradicate poverty in America.

"[9] Historian Samuel Moyn wrote positively about the book in The Guardian, praising Desmond for his scope, but criticized his proposed solutions for lacking a concrete plan to implement them.

"[11] In a mixed review of the book for Jacobin, Clark Randall writes that while its content "is not entirely lacking in truth, the way it is conceived reflects rather than challenges neoliberal ideas of subjective choice".

"[12] In a positive review for The Nation, Marcia Chatelain writes that the book makes a strong case why we should come together "to put an end to poverty in the United States once and for all," but this can only happen (according to Desmond's argument) when we reckon with the fact that too many high and middle income Americans "enjoy financial stability as a result of the suffering of the poor," including landlords, payday lenders, employers in the service industry, and consumers themselves who "want low prices, an abundance of market options, and a plethora of gig workers to drive them to airports or clean their homes."

She suggests that Desmond does not zero in on capitalism itself as the target as his objective with the book is to "bring people with disparate viewpoints and perspectives to a common place on poverty.