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mpejkrm's review
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Popular history at its finest - a unique look at an interesting topic, fascinating vignettes, a great flow, and most importantly, prose that is still that of a scholarly history rather than trying to be a political thriller. This book moves beyond the common history of the acquisition of overseas territory by the United States at the turn of the twentieth century and examines the country's relationship with empire instead, raising questions about how the effects of holding overseas possessions are, as the title states, "hidden" from everyday Americans.
The book is split into two parts, the first being a history of America's territorial expansion and the second pertaining more to how the US kept the benefits of their ex-empire after the decolonization of WWII and the Cold War. Immerwahr's key point is that the US never took pride in the empire, at least not publicly, as nations such as Britain and France. Most citizens had no idea about many overseas territories. As such, most of the vestiges of empire are not as visible. Some of these occurred in the "age of empire", like the use of Puerto Rico for medical experiments, but much of the book turns on how the US used its increased world prestige during the age of decolonization to advance things ranging from synthetics to the standardization of measurements and technical regulations. If this sounds convoluted, it is, but what makes this so readable is Immerwahr's terrific ability to make complex topics easy to understand without stripping away the scholarly aspects of his research. This is the rare history book that I think both scholars and my friends could enjoy. Highly recommended - everyone will learn something new from this.
The book is split into two parts, the first being a history of America's territorial expansion and the second pertaining more to how the US kept the benefits of their ex-empire after the decolonization of WWII and the Cold War. Immerwahr's key point is that the US never took pride in the empire, at least not publicly, as nations such as Britain and France. Most citizens had no idea about many overseas territories. As such, most of the vestiges of empire are not as visible. Some of these occurred in the "age of empire", like the use of Puerto Rico for medical experiments, but much of the book turns on how the US used its increased world prestige during the age of decolonization to advance things ranging from synthetics to the standardization of measurements and technical regulations. If this sounds convoluted, it is, but what makes this so readable is Immerwahr's terrific ability to make complex topics easy to understand without stripping away the scholarly aspects of his research. This is the rare history book that I think both scholars and my friends could enjoy. Highly recommended - everyone will learn something new from this.
friendlypoet's review
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Cancer, Racism, Xenophobia, War, Genocide, Racial slurs, and Violence
muse692's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
cuppieeecakes's review against another edition
My libby hold expired halfway through 🥲 I learned SO much and can't wait to finish. Definitely will be getting a physical copy so I can take notes.
bootsmom3's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation
Moderate: Violence, War, Xenophobia, Genocide, Forced institutionalization, and Medical content
Minor: Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Animal death, and Sexual content
scottp's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0