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Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild
quercus707's review against another edition
4.0
I think this was a really important book. I struggled with getting over the empathy wall. I'm not sure that I made it. But there is a window in it, at least. I highly recommend pairing this with The Unwinding, for a reminder about the larger context in which the "right-ing" described in this book has unfolded.
mjlin2009's review against another edition
4.0
First few chapters give fantastic explanations about the research behind understanding people with views different from you, and I particularly remember the idea of scaling the empathy wall. The book is also admirable for its empathetic character portraits.
However, in the end, and especially reading the appendix, I get the sense that at the end of the day, these rural people mostly just live according to feelings and tradition rather than fact, which is not a flattering description. The author does not say anything negative or much nuanced about left leaning views or protests or anything, which in this case makes the right seem uniquely stupid - despite this book being about empathy.
Also, not that the book claims it sets out to do so, it provides no significant message on how to remedy/reconcile the political spectrum. Therefore, although maybe I empathize a little more in the end, I gotta say that I am not exactly more uplifted or hopeful about the people and progress of the nation. Perhaps a subsequent book can study people who change their minds - in either political direction.
However, in the end, and especially reading the appendix, I get the sense that at the end of the day, these rural people mostly just live according to feelings and tradition rather than fact, which is not a flattering description. The author does not say anything negative or much nuanced about left leaning views or protests or anything, which in this case makes the right seem uniquely stupid - despite this book being about empathy.
Also, not that the book claims it sets out to do so, it provides no significant message on how to remedy/reconcile the political spectrum. Therefore, although maybe I empathize a little more in the end, I gotta say that I am not exactly more uplifted or hopeful about the people and progress of the nation. Perhaps a subsequent book can study people who change their minds - in either political direction.
megthegrand's review against another edition
5.0
I would say this book is essential reading for anyone who was dismayed by the November 2016 election results. It was at times heartbreaking, frustrating, infuriating, and enlightening.
eososray's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very informative book, the author offers a glimpse into a world and culture I have little frame of reference for. While I can personally understand the religious moral view of the people she talked to and some of the super conservative views, as I grew up with and am surrounded by those opinions, I can't wrap my head around the lack of environmental clean up and regulation or how the people are willing to just live with the consequences. These are anathema to everyone in the area I live and I can't even imagine the hoopla that would exist should something like this occur.
I did come out of reading this with much better understanding of the American conservative right. The authors analogy about everyone cutting in line ahead of the lower class white family and how frustrated they are with feeling like everyone gets to the American dream before them (even the Brown Pelican) illustrated for me a piece of the puzzle I was missing.
The unconscious racism that still exists here was also eye opening for me, I like to think I'm enlightened and don't do or think like this but I'm sure I do. The fact that some of this racism is so blatant, at least to my politically correct brain, is curious. What is not considered racism there is definitely not acceptable where I am, I would get the most shocked looks and would more than likely be told off in no uncertain terms.
Democrats and their ideals are perceived to be a threat to a way of life and judgement against a moral code. This isn't new, how many people have I talked to who grew up in the 50s that think it was better back then?? It wasn't as rosy as they remember, there were massive global issues, lots of crime, plenty of moral degenerates, it was never Leave it to Beaver like. They just hid everything, and I don't think that was a good way to live.
To look at all of this from a different perspective and see what they see, whether I agree or not, was enlightening though. It has given me a better appreciation for what these poor states are up against, both in the populaces demands for immediate solutions and the big corporations that abuse the system. It's a tricky problem and it's going to be tough to fix, especially with the wish to deregulate rather than regulate that permeates the region.
I did come out of reading this with much better understanding of the American conservative right. The authors analogy about everyone cutting in line ahead of the lower class white family and how frustrated they are with feeling like everyone gets to the American dream before them (even the Brown Pelican) illustrated for me a piece of the puzzle I was missing.
The unconscious racism that still exists here was also eye opening for me, I like to think I'm enlightened and don't do or think like this but I'm sure I do. The fact that some of this racism is so blatant, at least to my politically correct brain, is curious. What is not considered racism there is definitely not acceptable where I am, I would get the most shocked looks and would more than likely be told off in no uncertain terms.
Democrats and their ideals are perceived to be a threat to a way of life and judgement against a moral code. This isn't new, how many people have I talked to who grew up in the 50s that think it was better back then?? It wasn't as rosy as they remember, there were massive global issues, lots of crime, plenty of moral degenerates, it was never Leave it to Beaver like. They just hid everything, and I don't think that was a good way to live.
To look at all of this from a different perspective and see what they see, whether I agree or not, was enlightening though. It has given me a better appreciation for what these poor states are up against, both in the populaces demands for immediate solutions and the big corporations that abuse the system. It's a tricky problem and it's going to be tough to fix, especially with the wish to deregulate rather than regulate that permeates the region.
cdbaker's review against another edition
4.0
Although I was annoyed at aspects of this book, I'm glad I read it and I'm glad that someone wrote it. She focused on environmental issues (and I get why she did), but I wish there had been more on race and religion.
danacoledares's review against another edition
2.0
I do not understand the mindset behind conservative talking points any better now than I did before reading this book. Deregulating business and lack of oversight are terrible ideas. Financial support and infrastructure that benefits individuals are "handouts" that lead to dependency and laziness, but handouts to corporations are perfectly fine for some reason.
There was a lot of environmental stuff in here, which is actually not a pet issue of mine. But I just don't think it should be a big deal to demand businesses to behave in ways that benefit everyone, not just themselves. Historically, if we don't MAKE them behave in those ways, THEY DON'T.
There was a lot of environmental stuff in here, which is actually not a pet issue of mine. But I just don't think it should be a big deal to demand businesses to behave in ways that benefit everyone, not just themselves. Historically, if we don't MAKE them behave in those ways, THEY DON'T.
sby's review against another edition
5.0
This book helped me understand Trump supporters better than anything else I've read. Any book that can do so deserves five stars!
rebeccazh's review against another edition
4.0
Kinda wished the author had given a summary of each chapter so I could skip to the relevant ones.
- really appreciated the author's attempt to include emotions in politics
- am in admiration of the author's care in painting very detailed and sympathetic portraits of her interviewees
- the author's use of empathy - the deep story and the empathy wall - reminded me of brene brown's work and it's really inspirational
- this book explained a lot, but i skimmed most of the chapters before chapter 9: the deep story coz they were sort of repetitive and were basically examples illustrating the thesis in chapter 9. imo, the thesis should have come first, then the examples.
the tldr: 1) the clash between the uneducated poor conservative white and the liberal middle-class educated white is a class struggle that is disguised as a moral/political conflict. 2) many of trump's supporters vote for him because of a variety of factors - (toxic) white masculinity, protestant work ethic, christian moral purity and a sense of alienation because of a rapidly technologized/automated country.
it strikes me that trump supporters and the educated liberals are like the blind men and the elephant parable.
there were some really moving quotes in here. anyway, finally i have an answer to the great paradox and i understand the factors influencing this group of people and their emotional motivations.
- really appreciated the author's attempt to include emotions in politics
- am in admiration of the author's care in painting very detailed and sympathetic portraits of her interviewees
- the author's use of empathy - the deep story and the empathy wall - reminded me of brene brown's work and it's really inspirational
- this book explained a lot, but i skimmed most of the chapters before chapter 9: the deep story coz they were sort of repetitive and were basically examples illustrating the thesis in chapter 9. imo, the thesis should have come first, then the examples.
the tldr: 1) the clash between the uneducated poor conservative white and the liberal middle-class educated white is a class struggle that is disguised as a moral/political conflict. 2) many of trump's supporters vote for him because of a variety of factors - (toxic) white masculinity, protestant work ethic, christian moral purity and a sense of alienation because of a rapidly technologized/automated country.
it strikes me that trump supporters and the educated liberals are like the blind men and the elephant parable.
there were some really moving quotes in here. anyway, finally i have an answer to the great paradox and i understand the factors influencing this group of people and their emotional motivations.
marisacarpico's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
A struggle to finish, frankly. Many reasons why including the way certain phrases (was going to become homicidal if I had to see “empathy wall” one more time) are repeated ad nauseam to the extensive bites section.
Think I could have stood that, though, if this were structured better. The first half should have been the second half, giving us the details of these lives after we already understood what they represent in the book’s overall point. Maybe that only seems possible because the Cowboy and Rebel type chapters were set up first, but the book was a bit of a repetitive slog until the Deep Story concept is fully explained.
Also, maybe this is a journalistic motive, but I was extremely frustrated by the way easily refutable statements are left unchecked in the moment—typically with he lame excuse of the “empathy wall”. Many of these points are eventually made in their of the THREE appendices, but it’s rhetorically bizarre and frankly, irresponsible to leave them unaddressed in the moment.
I do perhaps wonder if some of this frustration is couched in the fact this research wrapped up mid-2016 and much has happened since then in the ideological battle this book essentially addresses. Regardless, a book I’ve been excited to read for years that I found a total chore to endure.
Think I could have stood that, though, if this were structured better. The first half should have been the second half, giving us the details of these lives after we already understood what they represent in the book’s overall point. Maybe that only seems possible because the Cowboy and Rebel type chapters were set up first, but the book was a bit of a repetitive slog until the Deep Story concept is fully explained.
Also, maybe this is a journalistic motive, but I was extremely frustrated by the way easily refutable statements are left unchecked in the moment—typically with he lame excuse of the “empathy wall”. Many of these points are eventually made in their of the THREE appendices, but it’s rhetorically bizarre and frankly, irresponsible to leave them unaddressed in the moment.
I do perhaps wonder if some of this frustration is couched in the fact this research wrapped up mid-2016 and much has happened since then in the ideological battle this book essentially addresses. Regardless, a book I’ve been excited to read for years that I found a total chore to endure.
leannaaker's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The author is a liberal woman from Berkeley who decides she will immerse herself in Louisiana culture, particularly that of the Tea Party....not to critique it, but to truly understand it. I was impressed both with her ability to be honest about her own conflicted feelings as she forms relationships with people, and also with her ability to paint a real picture that makes you empathize with "the other side." I will be honest... my journey reading the book probably paralleled her journey making it.... For probably 2/3 of the book, I would read, understand, and internally say "yes, but!!!!!" When I got to page 221, when she relays the story of being at a Trump rally, I had a sinking feeling. She had painted such a story at that point that I totally understood how "this" could have happened. I really did get it.
At the end of the book, she reflects on "what she would say" to her liberal friends and her new friends on the right. What she would say does leave you with some hope that there can be a common ground.
I also appreciate the fact checking she included in the appendices...and that she kept it separate from the book. We don't win others over by facts, but rather by "emotional self-interest" as she calls it, and she really tried to put into play what she discovered through her exploration by keeping the fact-checking separate from the story.
At the end of the book, she reflects on "what she would say" to her liberal friends and her new friends on the right. What she would say does leave you with some hope that there can be a common ground.
I also appreciate the fact checking she included in the appendices...and that she kept it separate from the book. We don't win others over by facts, but rather by "emotional self-interest" as she calls it, and she really tried to put into play what she discovered through her exploration by keeping the fact-checking separate from the story.