A review by andi_h
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D.L. Mayfield

5.0

I knew this one was going to be good long before I actually started reading it. I’ve been following D.L. Mayfield on social media for years, read her first book, and deeply appreciate her perspective and wisdom. The introduction convinced me that alongside the good, it was going to be hard and probably a little painful. And it was. The contrasts Mayfield draws between the American Dream and the scriptural blueprint for a society where everyone flourishes are sharp and uncomfortable. Confronting our privilege and complicity in the systems that marginalize, oppress, and dehumanize other image bearers is never easy. Doing so without getting lost in a fog of paralyzing guilt and fear is even harder. But we’re called to live humbly and act justly; and we cannot truly act justly without a renewed idea of what justice for all looks like. I’ll be processing this book for quite a while.