Among other topics, the book covers the history of consumer debt in the United States, the history of federal policy toward higher education, and political action in response to the issue of student debt. Perhaps most importantly, it explores the new relationship debtor-citizens have to the government as a result of debt, and how that impacts democracy for a new generation. To make its case, the book draws from individual borrowers, activists, policymakers, and academics, augmenting their stories with archival research and information on federal consumer finance policies. Taken together, these qualitative and quantitative approaches paint a clear picture of the consequences of student debt for America and its citizens, both now and in the future.