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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I don't even know how to rate this, so I won't. On the content side, 5 stars. Sharlet can have human conversations with ordinary people from so many sides of the divisions in this country. What he hears and reports back is important, if difficult at times, listening. On the other hand, I can't stand the writing style. It's so over the top, and sometimes it makes me question the veracity of the conversations he is reporting. I didn't enjoy listening to that but wanted the information, so I finished it. If this is a topic of interest for you, it is necessary reading. Just be aware that the writing style will ... take some getting used to.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Second time reading this book in a year, in large part because I read it so quickly the first time (I was very engaged). Many might find this moody or dark/ heavy, but I found it to be entirely true, like a through-the-looking glass cross-country trip through the wonky wide right turn that’s (seemingly) unfolded over the last few years among the religious right and those more recently recruited (but in fact started long ago…).
And while this starts off in religion, it by no means stays there, ultimately becoming a treatise on “if (when?) we fall” and what hope there may remain, a ribbon of hope that starts unfurling in the last section as one big metaphor.
Speaking of metaphor: both times I read this I felt like the book started out at normal pace, slowed down as it got more granular (in The Undertow section) and then sped up quickly at the end- enough so that I’m convinced this was a craft decision by the author.
And while this starts off in religion, it by no means stays there, ultimately becoming a treatise on “if (when?) we fall” and what hope there may remain, a ribbon of hope that starts unfurling in the last section as one big metaphor.
Speaking of metaphor: both times I read this I felt like the book started out at normal pace, slowed down as it got more granular (in The Undertow section) and then sped up quickly at the end- enough so that I’m convinced this was a craft decision by the author.
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
informative
slow-paced
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This collection of essays was rich and challenging. I was inspired by Sharlet's graciousness in the face
of some truly scary and abhorrent encounters, and his thoughtful historical, political and philosophical analyses. This is a great read for anyone hoping to understand the current moment in American culture. I fear that none of us lives far from a battleground of this "slow civil war."
I'll be thinking about Jeff Sharlet's front-row observations for a long time to come.
of some truly scary and abhorrent encounters, and his thoughtful historical, political and philosophical analyses. This is a great read for anyone hoping to understand the current moment in American culture. I fear that none of us lives far from a battleground of this "slow civil war."
I'll be thinking about Jeff Sharlet's front-row observations for a long time to come.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Hate crime, Infertility, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War
Minor: Gore, Gun violence, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Abortion, Death of parent
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
funny
sad
medium-paced