Poor: Grit, courage, and the life-changing value of self-belief
£7.60
The No. 1 Bestseller
‘One of the best [books] I have read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet’ Guardian
As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O’Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping.
This is the extraordinary story – moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling – of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revitalised those seeds in adulthood, leading her to become an award-winning academic whose work challenges barriers to education.
Poor is not only Katriona’s story, but is also her impassioned argument for the importance of looking out for our kids’ futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.
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‘Full of insight into a live lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty … so important … we’d highly recommend’ – Fi Glover, Times Radio
‘I read poor in one sitting … I found it so complelling. An amazing story … moving, uplifting, brave, heroic’ – Nuala McGovern, Woman’s Hour, BBC
‘Moving, funny, brave and original – just like the author … absolutely incredible’ – Roísín Ingle, Irish Times Women’s Podcast
‘One of the most important books I have ever read … a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds’ – Lynn Ruane, Irish Times
‘Fearless, funny and searingly honest’ – Adil Ray OBE
‘Raw and remarkable’ – Irish Independent
‘A book of empowerment and hope’ – Patricia Scanlan
‘An important contribution to our understanding of poverty and its impact’ – Sinéad Gibney, Business Post
‘An incredible read’ – Business Post
‘Phenomenal’ – Louise O’Neill
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Additional information
| Publisher | Sandycove (25 May 2023) |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| File size | 1902 KB |
| Text-to-Speech | Enabled |
| Screen Reader | Supported |
| Enhanced typesetting | Enabled |
| X-Ray | Enabled |
| Word Wise | Enabled |
| Sticky notes | On Kindle Scribe |
| Print length | 288 pages |
by catherine m
A harrowing tale of poverty, neglect, despair but also triumph, determination and guts. A sad indictment of society’s attitude to the lower orders and the damage done to the futures of a whole strata of people, many doomed to fail.
A life stripped bare, the good and the terrible exposed to the light. Unputdownable, literally.
by Amazon Customer
I noticed her brothers James, Matthew and Michael weren’t thanked at the end of her book, although her sister was, which is sad. Katriona is the middle child of 5 born to drug addicted alcoholic chaotic parents. I wonder if each child had been adopted (ideally to the same family) as they were born they would have been a better way to break the cycle of addition and neglect and high risk behaviour than Katrionas way as an adult. Their childhood was beyond horrific . Katriona was raped at 7 by a friend of her parents, and when she told her mother after dropping her brother off at the rapists house yet again for the night, her mother just told her she was raped by the same man too and shrugged it off and she still left her little boy Matthew there in the rapists home with him. WTF. The youngest baby was burnt by a kettle falling on the baby after Katriona made her mothers tea around the same time – around the time they went into care to be returned to the same dangers 6 months later and discharged without investigating the rape that should have been found when I her mother wanted her checked for infection- that report was lost. Then Katrina subjects her son John the same chaotic drug addicted partying absent mothering as her parents for the first 9 years of his life it seems, in a moment of goodness, help by her parents taking her son to Ireland, only for her mother to eventually revert to addiction. For decades their family is a cycle of destruction, her father going to prison repeatedly and her mother funding her habit and chips with prostitution. Her father just beats people when he gets out of jail as if that make it alright. I’m a bit bemused that the authors focus is not focused on the care system failing to remove the children when addiction is clearly a spiralling problem exposing children to neglect and risky people in their house, instead Katriona is more concerned on the education system, which can help and should, but they can’t replace good parenting in a stable home with parents that feed their kids when not in school and fills them with more esteem and encourage them to learn (going to parents evening and ensuring kids go to school). Yes education is a way to lift someone out of poverty but even poor people could raise kids in decent homes, not homes where the kids are selling drugs and father in and out of prison and family members raped by Uncle Bob. The kids would have been better off being adopted one by one until Tilly got herself together during a pregnancy and became the mother they needed. The focus on women needing a man for self esteem and money is not one she challenges well enough. She’s closer to her father than her mother, perhaps subconsciously she thinks if Tilly had been a better mum and rejected her father to raise them better things might have been better all round, ironic when both were encouraging drinking and drugs as their norm, even Katriona a bad influence on her mum when John was small.
A book that will make you cry and wonder what her siblings also went through, especially Matthew who spent nights with their rapist. Boys get raped too by some rapists. Katriona is raped and abused when older too by others but no complaint made, no consequence to protect other women from these men. Just a horrific life and glad she broke the cycle but feel awful her son’s childhood before meeting Dave and for her siblings and their family continuing the suffering and mindset installed into her parents. Interesting that her father was adopted but didn’t follow the opportunities his adopted family offered too and has horrific memories of his own first 5 years of life it’s said. One of the conclusions is that the early years are essential in the development of all children – from birth to pre-school and horrible things happened to these children which could have been prevented even if she acknowledged her parents were somewhat a lost cause when they were needed except for a brief time with John when she wasn’t even present. Even as she loves are parents is relieved when they die and confused by her emotions thinking about mental illness underlying the issues, life isn’t black and white but the pain Till and Tony introduced those 5 kids to wasn’t worth the few good memories of staying with them and messing up their lives into adulthood. Well done to the boys for trying, especially butcher Michael who helped raise his siblings from chapter 8. As she distanced herself from her mother I’m sure her siblings went through things that she doesn’t even know about trying to protect the family and keep it together. Very sad for all, they should have had a decent home, food, warmth, love and caring and been given all the opportunities to do whatever they wanted. She’s right there’s a class divide but alcoholism and addiction also affects all classes. Opportunities should be the same and fair, I hope more is done in both care and education to prevent other kids having the same childhood, including better family support and health services. Tragic to see her young life through her childhood perspective. A book that will haunt the reader.
by Ms. I. Nwosu
Poor is one of the best books I’ve read in years. Katriona’s story is empowering, heartbreaking, compelling, and deeply moving. I found it so inspiring. I felt myself drawing parallels to “Educated” by Tara Westover. Poor resonated with me on many levels. I think it will for many, but particularly if you’ve come from a working class background. I really found myself rooting for the best for her throughout, and it’s so important that she’s shared her story.
I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.
by Crocodile Mick
Not only is this book very well written but also Katriona has been brave and true to bare everything that happened to her growing up in such awful circumstances. I would recommend this book as one that everyone should read, if for no other reason than to say how lucky some of us are and how amazing this woman is to rise above everything that happened to her and remain so sane and balanced. Well done Katriona.
by Cliff Meister
This is an amazing book. It brought me to tears multiple times and reflected some harsh light on my adolescent male memories.
Very healthy to be asked to view my early sexual experiences from a perspective that wasn’t my own.
I am also poor done good, though my challenges were less severe and mitigated by being male (and white).
Psychology needs more minds like yours Katriona it’s too privileged a career path.
Thank you for winning the education game and going on to challenge the biased system that stops poor kids from even imagining they could be a judge, surgeon or architect. So much wasted talent- we all suffer for its loss.
by Rachel
Everyone should read this book. Especially, policy makers & politicians. I can only imagine the strength & courage it took to write this book. Thank you.
by Shy reader
I read this book in one sitting it is so powerful.
Katriona is the most amazing person to be the lady she is today. She had an unimaginable life as a child and teenager in the UK and still was up to the challenge when she moved to Dublin and realised she could study at Trinity University College – the most prestigious of Irish Universities. She is now Dr. Katriona O’Sullivan which is well deserved after all the abuse and neglect she suffered. Well done Katriona for showing that it can be done!
Absolutely a 5 stars from me, I will definitely read this book again.
by Speedy
This book is about the terrible circumstances under which many people in our society live. For the most part we all try to ignore it. Worse still, many say these people have only themselves to blame. This book is an easy read and may help others to see that the systems are loaded (unconsciously ?) against these people who are falling to the bottom of society.