A review by awhipp17
The People Are Going to Rise Like the Waters Upon Your Shore: A Story of American Rage by Jared Yates Sexton

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

this is the second book of his i've read. i appreciate his observational skills, his ability to compare and connect threads. his analysis of things feels very very real. he is also not pretending to be all knowing (he admits to when we made inaccurate predictions and ponders how it might have gotten things so wrong), he is not pretending to not be affected by the stress and chaos around him (his drinking habits make me actively worried for him, and his reactions to his death threats were maybe different i would have had, but certainly realistic and relatable and messy). he also shows us what loyalty in the GOP, Democrats, Green Party looks at at these rallies, conventions, meetings, debates, etc. active, strong, passionate loyalty...is freakin' scary. and sad. i depending on how far people go with it. as someone who votes for issues and wishes it wouldnt have to always be the same party to vote for, i don't recognize myself in the blind loyalty. it might help if i could, but i can't. he did a good job of showing at least the similarities across groups, so that we are reminded that it is very human, even if i don't really see myself in it, there are many others who do behave like that, my fellow humans. his ability to also get in among the scrum of the people was also a unique advantage in reading a political book. something i don't often do. i think at this point i would read most things this author writes. he is a voice to pay attention to.