Dream Hoarders: How the American Upper Middle Class Is Leaving Everyone Else in the Dust, Why That Is a Problem, and What to Do About It

Richard V. Reeves argues that the most consequential divide in modern America is not between the ultra-wealthy and the poor, but between the upper middle class and everyone else. Defining the upper middle class as the top 20 percent of earners, Reeves contends that this group has successfully insulated itself from the economic stagnation affecting the rest of the country. Through mechanisms like exclusive zoning laws, elite school admissions, and occupational licensing, this class engages in "opportunity hoarding," effectively converting economic advantage into permanent social status. The result is a fracturing of society where class identity becomes hereditary, reducing social mobility and hardening political polarization.

Written in a clear, analytical, and policy-oriented register, the book blends sociological observation with economic argument. Reeves moves beyond simple income metrics to examine how lifestyle, family structure, and neighborhood segregation reinforce class boundaries. He posits that this stratification undermines the meritocratic ideals of American society and hinders progressive policy. The text concludes with a pragmatic assessment of how to dismantle these barriers, advocating for reforms that would broaden access to high-quality education and housing, thereby restoring a more open and competitive social structure.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.