Economic Security Chapter Summary

The main themes of these chapters three and four were all about economic security. The authors discussed how economic security is one of the main components of the American dream. According to the authors, the American dream can be summarized by the words “economic security” and “well-being.” The authors also talk about how economic security not only helps people obtain basic human necessities, such as food and shelter, but it also helps their social lives and overall happiness. These chapters also talked about some different stories of people gaining or losing economic. The main evidence used to support themes discussed in these chapters were interviews the authors conducted with a variety of people with different stories about gaining and losing economic security. They interviewed Jim, who had economic security at one point in his life, when he worked for Chrysler. However, after getting laid off, Jim went from supporting his family comfortably with an $80000/year salary to barely making ends meet with a $30000/ year salary fixing roofs. This shows how economic security is not something that is guaranteed. The authors also interviewed …show more content…
The authors talk about Jim again in this portion of the book and share the story of how, to encourage his son to pursue his dream, Jim bought his son a $2000 trumpet (for which he had to take out a loan). Jim, who was barely making ends meet, risked economic security in order to help his son fulfill his dreams. The authors also use this example, as well as the example of Sarah, an elementary school teacher, to discuss how the American dream is about the hope and optimism of seeing progress in one’s own life and the lives of one’s children. The authors say that the American dream is about moving forward with the belief that the challenges ahead will be ultimately