Jonathan Arnold reviewed These Truths by Jill Lepore
Review of 'These Truths' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This comprehensive history of the United States was eye opening from beginning to the end. And at the start, it was eye opening for all the right reasons. Ms. Lepore tells an all inclusive history of the United States, not just one told from the white patriarchy. She describes the miserable conditions of the slaves, of the Native Americans and of the women in the New World. She touches upon all the big points in American history, like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but also tells it like it is and how it truly affected all the citizens of the United States, not just the land holding white gentry.
She describes the awful injustice of the Electoral College and it's "three fifths" clause that continues to haunt us to this day. She writes about the bigoted Dred Scott decision and the "seperate but equal" decision and just how …
This comprehensive history of the United States was eye opening from beginning to the end. And at the start, it was eye opening for all the right reasons. Ms. Lepore tells an all inclusive history of the United States, not just one told from the white patriarchy. She describes the miserable conditions of the slaves, of the Native Americans and of the women in the New World. She touches upon all the big points in American history, like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but also tells it like it is and how it truly affected all the citizens of the United States, not just the land holding white gentry.
She describes the awful injustice of the Electoral College and it's "three fifths" clause that continues to haunt us to this day. She writes about the bigoted Dred Scott decision and the "seperate but equal" decision and just how it affected all of us. The callous disregard for reality, for justice and for equality is breathtaking in its scope.
The big takeaway I got from this retelling of our most disturbing past is that, somehow, we got thru it. And, for a while there anyway, we got better too. We continue to get better, despite appeals to our darker instincts. So despite how dark it is these days, and how dreadful the makeup of the Supreme Court is today, it does seem like at some point, we will shake ourselves of this awful malaise and hatred and continue to move forward.
But as she got into more modern history, it just felt to me, about as liberal a middle aged white male person could ever be, that she bent over backwards to seem "even handed", going so far as to say at one point that the Tea Party was unfairly maligned as racist, often without any evidence at all. Ugh. She excoriates the liberal wing of the US basically as being too elitist - too white, too suburban and too rich. Now maybe that's true, but at least we are trying to make things better for others and not, unlike the "other side", trying to withhold rights and take away liberties. That ought to count for something right?
So I have to admit to skimming the last chapter, as I just couldn't take it. But in general, it is an eye opening look at our mostly awful past and how easily we, as a majority, can be swung to believe the most foul lies, especially if they reinforce our prejudices. And those that prey upon this factor ought to be pilloried. She does offer some particularly scathing reviews of political PR machines and how they have no soul, and just want to win at all costs. It can get so frustrating.
But I encourage everyone to give this book a read. It gives an excellent viewpoint on our history, without being quite as slanted as [b:A People's History of the United States|2767|A People's History of the United States|Howard Zinn|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494279423l/2767.SY75.jpg|2185591], which is also a history told from the downtrodden, but never gets above that.