5.0 out of 5 stars Important, educational and enjoyable

T. · May 10, 2025

A very timely and educational, but also highly readable, account of one of the problems that drives the severe and society-endangering housing crisis in the U.S. The author uses a comfortable narrative style and personal accounts to reveal some of the difficulties and conflicts involved in establishing, and more importantly, maintaining affordable housing in the U.S. Tarleton provides a balanced accounting of the conflicting factors - largely driven by government programs that promote housing as an tool for building wealth rather than as a necessity of life that needs to be available and affordable for everyone – that propagate this problem. The accounting is balanced and prescriptive without being judgmental. For such a complex problem, Tarleton generates an almost enjoyable tour. A highly recommended read.

5.0 out of 5 stars conceptually compelling, elegantly written, deeply humane

C.A. · March 5, 2025

This was a fascinating read. I came in with a bunch of questions about the dearth of affordable housing, and this book not only offered some answers, but opened up a whole new conceptual territory for me. As in, what if housing isn't a commodity, but a social good that makes other social goods possible, like health, security, community? Tarleton persuasively lays out for why housing, conceived in this way, is our collective responsibility, and too precious to be left to the whims and inequities of market forces.This book is primarily an oral history of two co-op towers in NYC built under the Mitchell-Lama program, which offered affordable buy-in prices while also capping the resale value: the co-op owners (Tarleton calls them "cooperators"—I love that) have to vote within their building whether to stay within the original terms of the program and ensure the next generation can buy in at affordable rates, or to put their units on the open market at a massive increase over their original purchase price.Tarleton isn't shy about his own position in this debate, and he gives reasons drawn from data and from the stories of real people. But what I found especially compelling about this book was how carefully and charitably he presents the people who want to privatize these units. These are people that Tarleton strongly disagrees with. But they are each portrayed as rich, full, human beings with complex and understandable motives. In this polarized world, it did my soul some good to think through a conflict without demeaning or diminishing the people on "the other side."

5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply informative and entertaining read that asks hard questions about how we can live together

R.J. · March 9, 2025

The book starts with a simple premise told through the story of two New York City housing co-ops: Why would some people collectively choose to not reap a massive individual economic windfall, while others in a similar situation would make the "rational" choice to signficantly increase their wealth? From there Tarleton brings us on a deeply informative and entertaining journey that investigates and challenges the "American Dream" of homeownership.✅ Are people motiviated by individual gain + private interest or community benefit, belonging, and collective well being?✅ How our housing system has created a relationship between vast housing wealth and pervasive housing scarcity✅ Can homeownership be a vehicle for reparations to economically exploited groups without replicating the dynamics of marginalization and incentives for exclusion baked into our traditional models of homeownership?✅ How narrative shapes our understanding of what is possible, fair, or "abnormal"These are major themes in this book that are deeply relevant to policymakers, urban planners, and anyone interested in housing affordability and governance of public goods.Big moral questions aside, the book is simply a fun read of New York City politics, its people, and the seemingly mundane everdyday beefs with neighbors that are actually about major issues facing the city. As an oral historian, Tarleton cleary has knack for capturing the personalities, motivations, and quirks of the characters that form the core of this story.

5.0 out of 5 stars An eye-opening deconstruction of America's capitalist take on housing

k. · March 10, 2025

This book presents a rigorous and compelling analysis of the forces shaping contemporary American housing. It critically examineshe systemic factors that have transformed residential property into a speculative asset. Tarleton meticulously traces the historical trajectory of policy and economic decisions, revealing the impact of redlining, financial deregulation, and the ascendancy of market-driven housing models.The author's strength lies in his ability to articulate the profound disconnect between the fundamental human need for shelter and the prevailing commodification of housing. He exposes the consequences of prioritizing financial returns over community well-being, demonstrating how this imbalance has exacerbated income inequality and undermined social stability. He does this through actual stories about two co-op buildings and their residents that capture your attention and keep you hooked throughoutHomes for Living is not merely a critique; it offers a framework for understanding the potential for alternative housing models and policy reforms. Tarleton's work is essential reading for anyone seeking to comprehend the complexities of the American housing landscape and to engage in meaningful discourse about its future. And if that's not your area of interest or expertise, read it anyway! You'll walk away a more well informed human being with a deeper appreciation for the urgent need for a more equitable and sustainable approach to housing, even if you're not the one in need of it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging coverage of an important hot topic!

s. · April 17, 2025

Wow! I had no experience with this topic and it was fascinating. The author made this housing issue so easy to understand and interesting to read. He artfully tells a story using the true voices of the residents, and really makes the issues come alive. The content readily transmits to the newly initiated reader as well as the academic crowd. Thanks for raising my awareness as this topic heats up in our current social climate.