I requested this book from Net Galley after reading the description, feeling that it would be an important book to read. The times we are currently in make understanding the past issues that have lead to the current problems in housing make this an even more timely read. It was heavy and hard at time, but sadly, so is our American history. I would especially recommend the final chapter in this book where Appelbaum lays out some ideas and a plan of sorts to help alleviate some of the current issues in housing.
Many thanks to Net Galley for the book and to the author to tackling such an important issue.

Stuck by Yoni Applebaum, by investigating property records, census data, insurance maps, municipal directories and newspapers, explores how upward mobility and opportunities have been declining due to economic and political policies which lock out the less affluent and privileged.

He argues that, through real estate/zoning laws and regulations and other policies, which limit access to underprivileged populations, result in the increased commuting times and distances, increased home prices and rents, decrease in wealth, opportunities and upward mobility for Americans as well as limiting the growth and wealth of the United states. Yoni Applebaum is also argues that the limiting mechanisms along with the NIMBY (Not in My Back Yard) mentality results in the inefficient development and allocation of housing resources in the country.

This was an interesting and succinct approach to the topic and would love to see more research on how this and other drivers impact upward mobility in this area from Yoni Applebaum.

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

America was once the land of reinvention, where people could move freely to improve their lives. This well-researched book reveals how, beginning in the 19th century, zoning laws and discriminatory practices have eroded this mobility—trapping generations in poverty and deepening inequality. Surprising, insightful, and engaging, this book explores how restricting movement has stifled opportunity and transformed the American dream.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book presents a historically grounded examination of how entrenched economic and political structures have obstructed social mobility in the United States. A historian and journalist, Appelbaum employs a methodologically rich approach, drawing from archival sources, legal histories, and economic data to create a compelling narrative of stagnation and inequality.

At the heart of the book is the argument that the American promise of upward mobility has been systematically chipped away at by policies that favor already established wealth and privilege, especially through real estate, zoning laws, and financial mechanisms that limit access to resources for historically marginalized communities. Appelbaum traces these restrictive structures back to their origins in the late 19th century, demonstrating how seemingly neutral legal and economic frameworks were designed to reinforce existing hierarchies. The case studies used offer empirical evidence of how property rights have been weaponized to maintain socioeconomic stratification.

The book is deeply interdisciplinary. Appelbaum synthesizes historiography, political economy, and urban studies, engaging with scholars like Richard Rothstein (The Color of Law) and Thomas Piketty (Capital in the Twenty-First Century). His argumentation is both historically situated and forward looking, providing an impressive analysis of American inequality while also engaging with contemporary policy debates.

Stuck is likely to resonate with folks interested in American history, political science, and urban studies, as well as those concerned with economic justice and structural inequality. By combining meticulous historical research with accessible prose, I think Appelbaum successfully bridges the gap between academic inquiry and public discourse.

This was a very informative read, and unfortunately I live in a town that doesn’t want any apartments being built. They attempt to shut it down which just drags on the time and then rent goes up. I’m an area which only retail/warehouse/food service jobs in a 20 mile radius, with rent for a one bedroom at a minimum of 1500, and 2 bd at 2000. The town next door attempted to build affordable housing and the lies I would see against it were so blatantly classist I was appalled. Eventually, it would become apartments with 10% affordable housing. Want to buy a house? A one bedroom is $300k and with rates… it’s just not doable. In order to get a better paying job, expect a one hour commute here.

This book goes in depth on how urban planning, politics, and law hurt Americans by limiting the amount of housing, driving people to have longer commutes. Since the 90s, many people have not moved as often as they once did, which makes me curious, were the employers paying to move them in the past? For those renters, think of the down payment of a deposit, first and last months rent, and brokers fees…. Than a moving van. It’s unfair and we need change asap. This book also covered ways we can handle the housing crisis.

Thought-provoking and necessary read.

From a nation of migrants to a country where more than 65 percent of residents in lower socioeconomic areas are stuck in the cities they were raised in, the American Dream no longer works as it once did. The author argues why it is so important to have the freedom of geographic mobility. An interesting read!