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The first book to tell the whole story of SNAP and to explain why all Americans should support it.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the nation’s largest government effort for helping low-income Americans obtain an adequate diet. How did SNAP, formerly the food stamp program, evolve from a Depression-era project to use up surplus goods into America’s foundational food assistance program? And how does SNAP survive? Incisive and original, Why SNAP Works is the first book to provide a comprehensive history and evaluation of the nation’s most important food insecurity and poverty alleviation effort.
Everyone has an opinion about SNAP, not all of them positive, but its benefits are felt broadly and across party lines. Christopher Bosso makes a clear, nuanced, and impassioned case for protecting this unique food program, exploring its history and breaking down the facts for readers across the political spectrum. Why SNAP Works is an essential book for anyone concerned about food access, poverty, and social welfare in the United States.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the nation’s largest government effort for helping low-income Americans obtain an adequate diet. How did SNAP, formerly the food stamp program, evolve from a Depression-era project to use up surplus goods into America’s foundational food assistance program? And how does SNAP survive? Incisive and original, Why SNAP Works is the first book to provide a comprehensive history and evaluation of the nation’s most important food insecurity and poverty alleviation effort.
Everyone has an opinion about SNAP, not all of them positive, but its benefits are felt broadly and across party lines. Christopher Bosso makes a clear, nuanced, and impassioned case for protecting this unique food program, exploring its history and breaking down the facts for readers across the political spectrum. Why SNAP Works is an essential book for anyone concerned about food access, poverty, and social welfare in the United States.
Price: $24.95
Pages: 280
Publisher: University of California Press
Imprint: University of California Press
Publication Date:
05 August 2025
Trim Size: 8.25 X 5.50 in
ISBN: 9780520425187
Format: Paperback
BISACs:
"This book is a crucial read for anyone interested in understanding food accessibility and welfare in the United States. . . . Christopher Bosso provides a balanced analysis of SNAP, shedding light on its far-reaching benefits and making a persuasive case for its continued support."
Christopher Bosso is Professor of Public Policy and Politics in the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, Boston.
Contents
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
1. Tales at the Intersection of Want and Plenty
2. “To Encourage Domestic Consumption”
3. The Paradox Anew
4. Farm Programs + Food Programs
5. Welfare Politics
6. Let Us Now Praise the Food Stamp Plan
Appendix: Table 1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program participation and costs, 1961–2022
Chronology: Key Moments in Food Stamps and the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Notes
Suggested Reading
Index
List of Figures
Acknowledgments
1. Tales at the Intersection of Want and Plenty
2. “To Encourage Domestic Consumption”
3. The Paradox Anew
4. Farm Programs + Food Programs
5. Welfare Politics
6. Let Us Now Praise the Food Stamp Plan
Appendix: Table 1. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program participation and costs, 1961–2022
Chronology: Key Moments in Food Stamps and the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
Notes
Suggested Reading
Index