'This powerful and important book shows that - despite their reputation - Americans want their government to do more to help the least well off. With new evidence and rigorous analysis, Piston shows that most Americans believe the poor have less than they deserve, the rich have more than they deserve, and the appearance of public opposition to progressive economic policies stems from a lack of understanding of who benefits not an opposition to downward redistribution.' Martin I. Gilens, Princeton University, New Jersey
'To understand the persistence of wide economic disparities in American society, Spencer Piston's important new book places ultimate responsibility on elite politics and discourse rather than mass public opinion. This is a vital addition to the growing literature on Americans' political views of class and inequality rooted in rigorous empirical evidence rather than conventional (elite) wisdom on both sides of the political aisle.' Leslie McCall, Presidential Professor of Sociology and Political Science, The Graduate Center, City University of New York
'Piston suggests that contrary to conventional wisdom, class attitudes are not only common among the American public but that these views play a substantial role in shaping political preferences. ... when the public is asked to think about politics in their own words, they often do so in terms of class. ... The book offers an important and compelling argument about how the public views the rich and the poor, which is bolstered by clear and precisely written prose. Piston introduces a novel perspective on U.S. class politics that I hope will shape how scholars think about social class, government redistribution, and economic inequality.' William W. Franko, Perspectives on Politics
