A review by slcpolitico
The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist

challenging emotional informative slow-paced

5.0

After having recently made my way through antebellum history while reading through presidential biographies, this history and examination of American capitalism through the lens of slavery was eye-opening and sobering. Although very slow at times, Edward E. Baptist does a laudable job at chronicling the generation of wealth on the back of slavery, while also maintaining a narrative that showed the reader the both the horror and humanity to be found in the experiences faced by individuals.  After reading this book, it’s clear that any accounting of our nation’s history, especially economic accountings, must center the exploitation, torture, and plunder that made it possible. Indeed, without such an accounting, only half the story is being told.