Eric Sirota's The Rent Eats First snaps at capitalist systems and the so-called 'American Dream' with honest anger and sharp satire. With a captivating blend of serious urgency and sarcastic wit, The Rent Eats First moves through personal stories and cultural moments to develop a broad picture of systemic inequality. Sirota interweaves his personal experiences as a public interest lawyer, representing low income tenants, with biting critique on the broader social and governmental systems that breed disparities. This collection reminds us that the political is emotional as Sirota shares personal struggles with mental health, self-image, and relationships in the face of social crisis. Through dynamic and poignant form, Sirota conveys the chaos of an ineffectual, discriminatory system. An earnest look at the difficulties of fighting a system from within, The Rent Eats First is a collection that needs to be read.