Scan barcode
sara_shocks's review
5.0
Given the prevalence of eugenics ideology underlying discussions around COVID-19, this is timely and necessary. Highly, highly recommend.
josienaron's review
4.0
as much about public memory + violence being built into today’s physical landscapes as it is about eugenics — not the book for you if you want a focused text, but i loved the connections catte made btwn class, race, and disability
erictb's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Slavery
cloudss's review
informative
fast-paced
5.0
thank god catte doesn't do the 'man of his time' shit in this book. Absolutely loved it. Discusses popular histories on american eugenics (ie imbeciles and others) focus on cary buck and how she is not the best test case to focus on. mostly discusses western state hospital and shenandoah NP, but uses them to discuss broader eugenicists ideas/goals. national park support from eugenicists NUTS. condominium made form old state hospital NUTS catte's math at the end of the book... fuck
emgusk's review
fast-paced
3.5
I stayed at the Blackburn Inn after getting medical care at UVA (which coincidentally included sterilization, but by choice and to prevent cancer, but still). I was haunted by the place and wanted to learn more. This book had a lot of answers about Staunton and Western State, and even gave me details on the history of Charlottesville and Skyland Resort in Shenandoah National Park. Here are a lot of places we vacation that have dark and troubling histories. I may not be able to enjoy these places as much as I did before reading this book but have a fuller understanding of how racist, classist and discriminatory theories impacted the lives of Virginians.