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A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War by Thomas Fleming
shayneh's review against another edition
4.0
A delightful walk through the lead-up to the Civil War, full of useful observations on the many causes of the war. The author really does a great job of following the twisted thread of causality as it winds about from colonial Virginia on.
chewdigestbooks's review against another edition
4.0
No. No, No, and hell no, you do not get to make excuses like that now because there are none. It's akin to stretching the divisiveness we're dealing with today, say in with CA or NY and the Rust Belt....only this was bloody human beings, even the North didn't get that, which angers me too.
At the end of the day, Racism is not a disease. Not liking being judged harshly for your business practices is normal but buckle up, buttercup, still, not a disease.
I'm sorry, you think the Abolishinists were mean to you and accused you of bad things as you did them and worse, you whiny, self-centered, narrow-minded, foolish, dreamers that are more like demons. Step back up on the curb, because you're too "inexperienced" to cross the street or vote, then or now!
At the end of the day, Racism is not a disease. Not liking being judged harshly for your business practices is normal but buckle up, buttercup, still, not a disease.
I'm sorry, you think the Abolishinists were mean to you and accused you of bad things as you did them and worse, you whiny, self-centered, narrow-minded, foolish, dreamers that are more like demons. Step back up on the curb, because you're too "inexperienced" to cross the street or vote, then or now!
bvargo's review against another edition
3.0
It's probably a 4, but the author's axe grinding got on my nerves.
theartolater's review against another edition
5.0
Thomas Fleming continues to be my favorite popular historian (and, truth be told, one of my favorite historians period). I was first turned onto him with The New Dealer's War, and I try to read what I can of his when I can. When I saw he was taking on the Civil War, I had to request it almost immediately.
I really enjoyed this because, like Fleming's other books, it takes a great point of view on an existing concept and shines a new light on it. This is less a history of the Civil War and more a long-form explanation as to how slavery was the root of the conflict. This isn't exactly a surprise to many who have studied the Civil War, to be clear, but it's one thing to simply argue that it's slavery, and another to see how the question of slavery truly infected all proceedings in America, from the beginning of our nation up until the war. It's definitely something that is diminished in the readings of the post-Revolution, pre-Civil War era.
I liked the new insight into John Quincy Adams, I liked the insight into a lot of legislative dealings. I appreciate John Brown from a historical standpoint again. This is worth a quick read if you like the era or just want a slightly different history book.
I really enjoyed this because, like Fleming's other books, it takes a great point of view on an existing concept and shines a new light on it. This is less a history of the Civil War and more a long-form explanation as to how slavery was the root of the conflict. This isn't exactly a surprise to many who have studied the Civil War, to be clear, but it's one thing to simply argue that it's slavery, and another to see how the question of slavery truly infected all proceedings in America, from the beginning of our nation up until the war. It's definitely something that is diminished in the readings of the post-Revolution, pre-Civil War era.
I liked the new insight into John Quincy Adams, I liked the insight into a lot of legislative dealings. I appreciate John Brown from a historical standpoint again. This is worth a quick read if you like the era or just want a slightly different history book.
historicalfemme's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Violence
chewdigestbooks's review against another edition
4.0
No. No, No, and hell no, you do not get to make excuses like that now because there are none. It's akin to stretching the divisiveness we're dealing with today, say in with CA or NY and the Rust Belt....only this was bloody human beings, even the North didn't get that, which angers me too.
At the end of the day, Racism is not a disease. Not liking being judged harshly for your business practices is normal but buckle up, buttercup, still, not a disease.
I'm sorry, you think the Abolishinists were mean to you and accused you of bad things as you did them and worse, you whiny, self-centered, narrow-minded, foolish, dreamers that are more like demons. Step back up on the curb, because you're too "inexperienced" to cross the street or vote, then or now!
At the end of the day, Racism is not a disease. Not liking being judged harshly for your business practices is normal but buckle up, buttercup, still, not a disease.
I'm sorry, you think the Abolishinists were mean to you and accused you of bad things as you did them and worse, you whiny, self-centered, narrow-minded, foolish, dreamers that are more like demons. Step back up on the curb, because you're too "inexperienced" to cross the street or vote, then or now!
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