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A review by dreamgalaxies
Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild
3.0
Hmm.
I thought this was an enlightening read but I don't think it stands up to the hype. My favorite part was the 'deep story' portion, trying to get into the emotional reality working class conservatives see themselves in today. I also appreciated some of the discussion of Trump as a match that really set off a powder keg of flaring racial and class dynamics in our society.
I don't think, though, that this was a particularly groundbreaking book in terms of true connection between liberals and conservatives. Sure, maybe left-leaners will be able to understand more of why conservatives think they do if they read this--but they'll still come to the conclusion that these people vote and believe the way they do out of ignorance. To some extent, I guess it's an unavoidable conclusion--especially on the environmental front. I just couldn't get over the 'empathy wall,' as Hochschild refers to it and understand why these people think the way they do based on the life experiences they have. I guess that says a lot about the problem itself.
I also feel like there's a lot missing on race in this book, and a good bit about the 'establishment' feel in politics these days. Part of the reason we're seeing such mobility from the left to the right is that there is a right-wing answer to the feeling that we've gotten screwed by the establishment. The Left is still very much only The Establishment Left. The Democrats are not appealing to lower class folks at all. They deserve some blame in this game for that, and Hochschild doesn't get into that at all. As a Leftist who would not consider myself a Democrat, I found myself frustrated that Hochschild talked so much about class without digging into that.
I thought this was an enlightening read but I don't think it stands up to the hype. My favorite part was the 'deep story' portion, trying to get into the emotional reality working class conservatives see themselves in today. I also appreciated some of the discussion of Trump as a match that really set off a powder keg of flaring racial and class dynamics in our society.
I don't think, though, that this was a particularly groundbreaking book in terms of true connection between liberals and conservatives. Sure, maybe left-leaners will be able to understand more of why conservatives think they do if they read this--but they'll still come to the conclusion that these people vote and believe the way they do out of ignorance. To some extent, I guess it's an unavoidable conclusion--especially on the environmental front. I just couldn't get over the 'empathy wall,' as Hochschild refers to it and understand why these people think the way they do based on the life experiences they have. I guess that says a lot about the problem itself.
I also feel like there's a lot missing on race in this book, and a good bit about the 'establishment' feel in politics these days. Part of the reason we're seeing such mobility from the left to the right is that there is a right-wing answer to the feeling that we've gotten screwed by the establishment. The Left is still very much only The Establishment Left. The Democrats are not appealing to lower class folks at all. They deserve some blame in this game for that, and Hochschild doesn't get into that at all. As a Leftist who would not consider myself a Democrat, I found myself frustrated that Hochschild talked so much about class without digging into that.