In The Working Poor by David K. Shipler, Shipler analyzes the effects of poverty and the responsibility of the working poor in America. Chapter six of the book focuses on childhood trauma that affects a person's later life. In this chapter, Shipler discusses sexual abuse within families, parental neglect, and other factors that contribute to a life of poverty. It chronicles real experiences and the effects that an individual's childhood had on their life. Although his examples are based on the real lives of the poor in America, it seems that he found the most extreme cases. Even though these situations are horrific, not everyone affected by poverty is classified under these extreme conditions. Shipler presents excellent points and facts regarding childhood trauma affecting the future, but fails to recognize that not all children will succumb to the struggles of poverty nor does he offer plausible solutions to his reviews. Throughout the chapter, Shipler displays an extreme liberal bias. involving people experiencing poverty. His point of view in this chapter is that childhood greatly affects a person's future. He states, “Their future is crippled by their past” (Shipler 143). This quote is somewhat true. The teenage years are the most important in shaping a person. However, Shipler takes this idea to the extreme and makes it seem like if a person has a bad childhood, they will end up in poverty. A concrete example he gives in this chapter is the story of Peaches. Peaches had never known her biological parents, lost her adoptive family before she was five, and was forced to go into foster care. Due to her dark skin, she faced discrimination and also suffered verbal and physical abuse. ...... middle of paper ......erty. Shipler focuses only on the permanent effects of those who have not escaped poverty. It seems to focus only on the negative aspects of childhood trauma and leaves readers with little hope that children who are victims of these situations will be able to overcome and achieve anything in life. Shipler highlights some major players in poverty in this chapter, but ultimately fails to examine all perspectives on childhood trauma or tell the reader which direction to go in order to achieve a solution. Works Cited Shipler, David. The working poor: invisible in America. First vintage books Ed. New York: Vintage Books, 2004. PrintCourrier, Kathleen. "Isn't it difficult?" Science and technology issues. 21.1 (2004): 91. EBSCOhost. Database. March 12, 2014.Lenkowsky, Leslie. “Down and out?” Commentary 117.5 (2004): 71-73. EBSCO host. Database. March 7 2014.