17. what was the topic of the book the other america? a. poverty was widespread in america. b. education was lacking in america. c. americans needed more highways. d. racism was widespread in america.

A. Poverty was widespread in America.

Away from the nation's affluent suburbs was another country, one inhabited by the poor, the ill-fed, the ill-housed, and the ill-educated. This was the assertion made by author Michael Harrington in his 1962 book, The Other America: Poverty in the United States.  Harrington's book had an impact on the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.  President Johnson's "Great Society" plans aimed to address the problems of poverty in America.