Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. illustrations ix
4. Acknowledgments xi
5. Prologue 1
6. CHAPTER ONE. In America’s Heartland 30
7. CHAPTER TWO. East St. Louisans and Their Cars 58
8. CHAPTER THREE. Work and Meaning in a Jobless Suburb 76
9. CHAPTER FOUR. Hustling, Clean and Dirty 98
10. CHAPTER FIVE. “Around here, women never get done workin’ ” 125
11. CHAPTER SIX. “Gotta protect my own” 154
12. CHAPTER SEVEN. The Cost of Abandonment 180
13. Epilogue. Obama and East St. Louis 185
14. Notes 193
15. Selected Bibliography 215
16. Index 231