Poor
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Poor
Buy Now for $21.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Katriona O'Sullivan
About this listen
Brought to you by Penguin.
'We love a rags-to-riches story, and we love to see someone triumph through sheer determination. But the story is rarely that simple. My story isn't, anyway.'
As the middle of five kids growing up in dire poverty, the odds were low on Katriona O'Sullivan making anything of her life. When she became a mother at 15 and ended up homeless, what followed were five years of barely coping.
This is the extraordinary story - moving, funny, brave, and sometimes startling - of how Katriona turned her life around. How the seeds of self-belief planted by teachers in childhood stayed with her. How she found mentors whose encouragement revived those seeds in adulthood.
Now an award-winning lecturer whose work challenges barriers to education, Poor stands as a stirring argument for the importance of looking out for our kids' futures. Of giving them hope, practical support and meaningful opportunities.
Critic Reviews
'A book of empowerment and hope.' (Patricia Scanlan)
'[A] story for the unheard and unseen that is fearless, funny and searingly honest.' (Adil Ray OBE)
'Katriona has taken her life and turned it into a call for action. She has given us all of her in her radically honest memoir and all who read it must meet that honesty with action. Poor is a book that can society, and we must all level up to change it with her.' (Lynn Ruane)
What listeners say about Poor
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Vikki
- 03-02-2024
Raw honesty
This book is such a raw honest journey. The sharing of a life with really unfortunate circumstances one after another. These events would crush the spirit out of most but this Girl / Women pushes through even thought it’s a long road. She still has love in her heart for her parents and can empathise with all their struggles . What a brilliant human.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 30-10-2023
Real, heartbreaking and insightful
I loved this book, a great perspective on poverty, addiction, socioeconomic layers and the importance of education and kindness.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jessie Brautigan
- 25-06-2023
Beautiful, heart breaking, inspiring
With all the talk about identity and inclusion these days we often brush over one of the most powerful factors that continues to seperate us, class. This book is an exploration of poverty and childhood trauma through the eyes of a survivor. I was moved me to tears on many occasions both by the hope and the pain in these pages. Katriona O’Sullivan speaks with so much courage about her childhood and early adulthood. About her experiences of poverty, sexual assault, exposure to drugs and alcohol and chronic instability in her family home. She is so real in a way you don’t often see in a memoir. The love, empathy and loyalty she expresses towards her parents is balanced with anger and resentment for the things they put her and her siblings through.
I feel so grateful to have stumbled upon this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fiona Jane Harris
- 02-07-2023
Thought provoking, challenging, inspiring
A sorry of a bad girl made good? Some may think that. I challenge anyone to read this and revaluate the entire system of the haves and have nots. We who had stable childhoods really have no idea … Thank you for this book Katriona
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 27-05-2023
Empowering
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. A painful and beautiful book about the complexities of poverty.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Maara Strickland
- 01-06-2023
Great story
I really resonate with this book. The life story of those who are struggling with life.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jane Recny
- 23-06-2023
Fabulous book!
Wonderful! Brilliantly read and very thought provoking.... incredible... everyone should read it! What an achievement.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 06-07-2023
A story of tenacity and triumph
Katriona's story has left me in awe, she's an inspiration for anyone in harrowing circumstances, and for others in our community to encourage and support young people
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-08-2023
Incredible
What an incredible story of survival, resilience, determination and triumph. I was moved to tears several times and quite literally could not stop listening. I have been recommending the book to everyone / anyone I speak to. I was so inspired by Katriona’s story and I’m so grateful that she was able to share it with others. I can’t imagine that it won’t strike a chord with everyone who reads it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- CJC
- 13-09-2023
Heartbreaking, beautiful and intelligent.
The generosity of the author sharing this important & precious story… A review is never really going to it justice.
Katriona’s story both broke my heart and opened it. Thank you.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!