Although Harrington uses some statistics in the book, the vast majority is narrative and analysis. His notable beliefs about statistics are included in the Appendix, the final section of the book. This is interesting to read even taken away from the balance of the book. Combining the numbers with the words, Harrington paints a dismal view of poverty and the poor. There are lengthy discussions of the twisted spirit within the culture of poverty. Since the book is nearly 50 years old, the statistics are dated. In fact the federal government didn't start keeping statistics on poverty until 1959. But the words are just as apt as they were when the book was published.