BrittleB

Strongly recommend but with caveats.

Revisado: 12-28-24

This is an excellent book and the central thesis that links the decline and revival of the pre civil war South with the expansion of the West. The nexus, as Heather explains it, is quite compelling. For readers who share the author’s values (like me), the arguments and historical narrative confirm many of the your existing beliefs. However, the author’s monolithic view of “white men” is myopic and misleading. Many, many white men are as committed to restoring and sustaining the post WW2 liberal consensus as the author appears to be. Many white men, including me, have been and remain staunch advocates of women and minority rights. They also deeply oppose the de facto caste system that the author persuasively describes as the central achievement of movement conservatives. The author would be wise to widen the aperture when she discusses the political prerogatives of white men. Furthermore, the author’s treatment of cultural subject matter assumes that culture shapes the public’s political views more than the converse. Archie Bunker, John Wayne and his proxies, and other cultural media are successful at least in part because the subject matter and stories resonate with readers and viewers. Culture shapes people and is shaped by people but the author focuses almost exclusively on the shaping of people by culture and ignores the converse. Hollywood does not make movies for propaganda but for money. Similarly, the enduring popularity of some books and movies is not solely a result of enduring white bias. For example, Gone With the Wind is cherished by many for the love story it tells rather than its commentary on race relations in the south. Finally the book mostly overlooks the complicity of supposed champions of the liberal consensus with the rise of a cosmopolitan elite. Bill Clinton signed NAFTA and similar free trade agreements that have over the past 30 years hollowed out the middle class. Still worse, the author treats the grievances of those who lost more than they gained from the globalization of trade woodenly. Americans who live close to salt water seem glib about the corrosion of the middle class in the Midwest and other parts of the country’s interior. The loss of jobs due to globalization has devastated communities and ruined the lives of countless individuals.
The most obvious issue missing from this book is greed, and the lust for power that accompanies it.
So, this is a good book. I hope her next is great.

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Worse than your worst expectations

Revisado: 05-12-23

The author cannot provide a cogent and concise definition of an “expert.” He cites little if any basis for making sweeping statements. I could not endure this misanthropic mansplaining. Read the book “Range” for the declining value of “expertise” in an age of AI. Read Mastery for understanding “expertise.” This book is rubbish.

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Autocratic Tendencies

Revisado: 01-16-21

This book is ideological hogwash and xenophobia. I am a political independent and tend toward moderation more than liberalism or conservatism or any other ideological extreme. Books like this are dangerous. They are full of hate and glorify violence and discrimination.

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esto le resultó útil a 6 personas

One of my favorite books

Revisado: 11-24-18

Love this book except that the ending leaves a lot to be desired. Narration is great except the voice of Gus takes some getting used to before you can appreciate the character fully.

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Intriguing subject but difficult to follow

Revisado: 09-20-18

Each of the many stories included in the book are suspenseful and fascinating. The trouble is that the stories seldom support the arc of the book's intended hi historical narrative.

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Finished this book in a single day. Great story

Revisado: 07-15-18

Finished this book in a single day. Great story with heaps of gripping details about the Silk Road. Second half is more suspenseful than the firat half. A+

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a work of staggering genius

Revisado: 07-06-17

This is an excellent book and the most compelling recapitulation I have yet to read on the political causes of the Civil War.

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good but not great

Revisado: 06-27-17

substance is mostly anecdotal and treatment of historical figures and episodes is somewhat shallow. author is at his best when delving into antiquity and original stoic thinkers. recommend reading.

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A-

Revisado: 05-09-17

This was a very good book but not a truly great book. encourage all to read this book anyway, especially those struggling through the grief process.

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This is an excellent book.

Revisado: 02-19-17

Tim Wu had a hard act to follow after his debut book, The Master Switch. In The Attention Merchants, Wu actually delivers his first masterpiece. the first few chapters are slow but the book improves significantly in the second part.

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