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librosconcafe's review
4.0
I think the bad ratings must have come from those that felt convicted and guilty, and didn’t like that feeling. I saw others stating the book was not well researched, but that’s just not the case. There are numerous sources and footnotes to back up everything.
I found it to be beautifully written. The author gives us an inside look into stories of refugees and what they deal with in the American culture. She also debunks the myth of the American dream. Most of all, the book gives us inspiration to love our neighbor as ourself, as how Christ intended us to.
I found it to be beautifully written. The author gives us an inside look into stories of refugees and what they deal with in the American culture. She also debunks the myth of the American dream. Most of all, the book gives us inspiration to love our neighbor as ourself, as how Christ intended us to.
aarikdanielsen's review
5.0
One of the most important books of the year, filled with poetry and fire and the call to imagine a world that is holy and whole.
jarreloliveira's review
5.0
Definite gut punch to comfortable and compromised Christianity. A faith that continually calls us to die to the self and live to Christ and neighbor has been warped and perverted by racial supremacy and want of power. The dream, at least the dream that was promoted to many over time, was a myth that only served a select few men of a particular social constructed racial formation.
It is time we divest ourselves of our culturally flawed folk religion and take up the cross of Christ to change our communities, one person and system, at a time.
Love Danielle's work. Appreciate her candidness regarding her awareness of her history and the history of her colored neighbors. Her willingness to be part of the community she serves and not just an itinerary preacher there, who returns to the comfort and affluence of her gated community once the photo-op is done.
Her openness reflects the person of Christ and we need more of it.
It is time we divest ourselves of our culturally flawed folk religion and take up the cross of Christ to change our communities, one person and system, at a time.
Love Danielle's work. Appreciate her candidness regarding her awareness of her history and the history of her colored neighbors. Her willingness to be part of the community she serves and not just an itinerary preacher there, who returns to the comfort and affluence of her gated community once the photo-op is done.
Her openness reflects the person of Christ and we need more of it.
sarahs_readingparty's review
4.0
The Myth of the American Dream is an important book. It's readable, and yet hard to read. From the beginning, D. L. Mayfield presented the reality of what the "American Dream" looks like for so many in this country today. I felt so much conviction around my life of privilege as a middle class white woman, a homeowner, a suburb-dweller, a Christian who has only ever been a minority by choice (study abroad). I've read D. L. Mayfield for years and love her passion for justice, equity, and for making people the center of the world and not just financial gain. While reading this book, I was encouraged to see her passion for change and her conviction that Christians need to do better.
There were a few concerns I had with this book. First, I think poverty and suffering were a bit romanticized or presented as a subject the author feels guilt over not experiencing. I was curious to know when it is "appropriate" for white people to suffer. The author almost died in childbirth but seemed to brush that off as "not as bad" as other people's experiences. Secondly, she teaches refugees English and is friends with Muslims. I wonder where evangelism comes into that. I'm not saying we should "4 spiritual laws" everyone we come into contact with, but I think if Christians are involved in that work they should talk about their faith. I didn't get that the author does that but maybe I missed it. Lastly, if we don't just follow her example--how do we change our perception of the American dream and help others? There was a little encouragement to "get involved" at the end but no real suggestions as to HOW to do that. I put the book down feeling somewhat more educated, a little more guilty, and not really sure how to move forward.
Despite these concerns, I think this book is worth the read and is an important subject to consider.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free ecopy to read. All opinions are my own.
There were a few concerns I had with this book. First, I think poverty and suffering were a bit romanticized or presented as a subject the author feels guilt over not experiencing. I was curious to know when it is "appropriate" for white people to suffer. The author almost died in childbirth but seemed to brush that off as "not as bad" as other people's experiences. Secondly, she teaches refugees English and is friends with Muslims. I wonder where evangelism comes into that. I'm not saying we should "4 spiritual laws" everyone we come into contact with, but I think if Christians are involved in that work they should talk about their faith. I didn't get that the author does that but maybe I missed it. Lastly, if we don't just follow her example--how do we change our perception of the American dream and help others? There was a little encouragement to "get involved" at the end but no real suggestions as to HOW to do that. I put the book down feeling somewhat more educated, a little more guilty, and not really sure how to move forward.
Despite these concerns, I think this book is worth the read and is an important subject to consider.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a free ecopy to read. All opinions are my own.
mattstebbins's review
[This was an ARC via a giveaway Kerr won somewhere and my fourth (?) consecutive DNF...yay, pandemic reading!]
I grew up in the church. I was a preacher for a year. I can sling bible verses with the best of them—or could once upon a time, anyway, before I realized I could let that part of my brain rot—and look, I get it, America would be a better place if more Christians would examine what their bible actually says (and even the historical context in which the gospels were shaped and who made those decisions about which books merited inclusion, how they would be translated, etc, etc!) vs what American Christianity pretends it says. But I just can't respect a book that refuses to recognize that American Christianity is the problem and instead bases its critique on the idea that the church can fix America if they just rededicate themselves, etc, etc.
Look, there was so much potential here. And if even a fraction of her target audience read what she has to say and take tangible lessons about how to live their faith in a way that doesn't perpetuate unjust systems that reward white people (especially those born in certain strata/socioeconomics, etc) above all others, well, that's something good. I think I was just hoping for something a little harder hitting.
I grew up in the church. I was a preacher for a year. I can sling bible verses with the best of them—or could once upon a time, anyway, before I realized I could let that part of my brain rot—and look, I get it, America would be a better place if more Christians would examine what their bible actually says (and even the historical context in which the gospels were shaped and who made those decisions about which books merited inclusion, how they would be translated, etc, etc!) vs what American Christianity pretends it says. But I just can't respect a book that refuses to recognize that American Christianity is the problem and instead bases its critique on the idea that the church can fix America if they just rededicate themselves, etc, etc.
Look, there was so much potential here. And if even a fraction of her target audience read what she has to say and take tangible lessons about how to live their faith in a way that doesn't perpetuate unjust systems that reward white people (especially those born in certain strata/socioeconomics, etc) above all others, well, that's something good. I think I was just hoping for something a little harder hitting.
kritter513's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Timely and powerful. Illuminates the problem and points a direction forward without giving specific prescriptive paths or must-do items to check off. More of a heart level read. Readable and relatable with personal stories throughout.