How can a city with so much prosperity see so many of its citizens struggle with homelessness? That is what Conor Dougherty seeks to answer in his striking book about the history and politics of the dire housing shortage in San Francisco. The journalist nimbly, and with significant humanity, covers a lot of ground: decades-old legislation and economic trends; dueling factions of contemporary progressives; activists with various targets and tactics; and a California state senator with a bill which Dougherty believes could provide a long-needed solution, but has failed for three years in a row.