Includes bibliographical references and index.

Set against the backdrop of rising economic insecurity and rolled up safety nets, Cooper explores what keeps Americans up at night. Through poignant case studies, she reveals what families are concerned about, how they manage their anxiety, whose job it is to worry, and how social class shapes all of these dynamics, including what is even worth worrying about in the first place. This powerful study is packed with intriguing discoveries ranging from the surprising anxieties of the rich, to the critical role of women in keeping struggling families afloat. Through tales of stalwart stoicism, heart-wrenching worry, marital angst, and religious conviction, Cut Adrift deepens our understanding about how families are coping in a go-it-alone age - and how the different strategies affluent, middle-class, and poor families rely upon not only reflect inequality, but also fuel it.