Overview

'One of the best books I have ever 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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Katriona O'Sullivan
Publisher:   Penguin Books Ltd
Imprint:   Penguin Books Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 12.80cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 19.80cm
Weight:   0.216kg
ISBN:  

9780241996768

ISBN 10:   0241996767
Pages:   304
Publication Date:   18 April 2024
Audience:   General/trade ,  Professional and scholarly ,  College/higher education ,  General ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Reviews

A book of empowerment and hope -- Patricia Scanlan [A] story for the unheard and unseen that is fearless, funny and searingly honest -- Adil Ray OBE Phenomenal -- Louise O'Neill Katriona has taken her life and turned it into a call for action. She has given us all of her in her radically honest memoir and all who read it must meet that honesty with action. Poor is a book that can society, and we must all level up to change it with her. -- Lynn Ruane

"A book of empowerment and hope -- Patricia Scanlan [A] story for the unheard and unseen that is fearless, funny and searingly honest -- Adil Ray OBE Phenomenal -- Louise O'Neill Katriona has taken her life and turned it into a call for action. She has given us all of her in her radically honest memoir and all who read it must meet that honesty with action. Poor is a book that can change society, and we must all level up to change it with her. -- Lynn Ruane 'Poor is an important contribution to our understanding of poverty and its impact on those who experience it.' -- Sinead Gibney * Business Post * 'A raw and remarkable account of poverty, addiction, neglect, homelessness and trauma.' * Irish Independent * 'An incredible read' * Business Post * 'One of the most important books I have ever read ... a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds.' -- Lynn Ruane * Irish Times * '[Poor] is moving, funny, brave and original - just like the author . . . an absolutely incredible read' -- Róisín Ingle * Irish Times Women's Podcast * 'One of the best books I have ever read about the complexities of poverty ... one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet.' * Guardian * 'An amazing story . . . moving, uplifting, brave, heroic, shocking at times' Just an amazing book I read [Poor] in one sitting. I found it so compelling. I highly recommend it - an amazing story. -- Nuala McGovern * Women's Hour, BBC * 'They should put it on the leaving cert . . . an extraordinary book' -- Brendan O'Connor * RTÉ Radio One * '[Poor] is absolutely brilliant. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is, as far as I'm concerned, the book of the year!' -- Pat Kenny * Newstalk * 'A fascinating story of overcoming great adversity, so well told' -- Matt Cooper * Today FM * Full of insight into a life lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty ... we both thought it was really full of self-awareness and observation. ... a book that is so important ... We'd highly recommend her memoir, Poor ... -- Fi Glover * Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio * If I was a student who could be lectured by her, I would feel beyond privileged ... I really do recommend the book. -- Jane Garvey * Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio * Poor tells the remarkable story of her ascent from the ""trenches"" and her determination to inspire others. Poor ... is a vivid retelling of Katriona flourishing, despite her beginnings. * BBC News West Midlands * Just finished this brilliant book ... it strikes at the heart of the damage we as a society are doing to children living in poverty. -- June Shannon * Twitter *"

Full of insight into a life lived right up against the boundaries placed on it by poverty . . . so important . . . we'd highly recommend -- Fi Glover * Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio * I read [Poor] in one sitting I found it so compelling. An amazing story . . . moving, uplifting, brave, heroic -- Nuala McGovern * Woman's Hour, BBC * Moving, funny, brave and original - just like the author . . . absolutely incredible -- Róisín Ingle * Irish Times Women's Podcast * One of the best books I have ever read about the complexities of poverty . . . one of the most remarkable people you will ever meet * Guardian * One of the most important books I have ever read . . . a beautiful telling of determination despite the odds -- Lynn Ruane * Irish Times * [A] story for the unheard and unseen that is 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 * Business Post * An incredible read * Business Post * Phenomenal -- Louise O'Neill Katriona has taken her life and turned it into a call for action. She has given us all of her in her radically honest memoir and all who read it must meet that honesty with action. Poor is a book that can change society, and we must all level up to change it with her. -- Lynn Ruane They should put it on the leaving cert . . . an extraordinary book -- Brendan O'Connor * RTÉ Radio One * Absolutely brilliant. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is, as far as I'm concerned, the book of the year! -- Pat Kenny * Newstalk * A fascinating story of overcoming great adversity, so well told -- Matt Cooper * Today FM * If I was a student who could be lectured by her, I would feel beyond privileged ... I really do recommend the book. -- Jane Garvey * Off Air with Jane and Fi, Times Radio * The remarkable story of her ascent from the trenches [of poverty] and her determination to inspire others . . . a vivid retelling of Katriona flourishing, despite her beginnings * BBC News West Midlands * Just finished this brilliant book ... it strikes at the heart of the damage we as a society are doing to children living in poverty. -- June Shannon * Twitter *

Author Information

Dr Katriona O'Sullivan was born in Coventry to Irish parents. In 1998, at 20, she moved from Birmingham to Dublin and subsequently enrolled in the Trinity College access programme. After being awarded a PhD in psychology from Trinity she joined its staff. She now lectures in psychology at Maynooth University and lives with her family in Dublin. Poor is her first book.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions