jolietjane's review against another edition
4.0
This is a good book that has a lot of flaws. Whats The Matter With Kansas was written in the Bush era of 2004, but its still eerily relevant today. Thomas Frank predicted a lot of modern political discourse here.
The topics:
- Conservatives using culture wars to distract from wealthy people waging class wars
This one is pretty simple, Basically, this is something we have known for a long time. Conservatives have spent a long time getting poor people on their side and voting against their own interests by appealing to one issue voters and stirring up a latest "culture war" drama.
- the weakening of unions and subsequent erosion of union heavy rural areas
You get some really fascinating walkthroughs on the collapse of several Kansas towns and cities.
- Conservative pushing the idea that that the "wealthy elite" is more of a "vibe" vs actually about having money.
the elites are Starbucks-drinking urbanites who make 30k a year. Donald Trump is an everyman, as is Elomn Musk. This is an extremely interesting point made that feels MOST relevant today because of how much more true it is. Conservatives manage to shield themselves from being considered part of the ruling class because they talk about "drinking beers and praising jesus".
The most interesting part of the book was Frank walking us through the wasteland of Kansas- a once thriving socialist/union-heavy state that has fallen into a deep state of disrepair. Frank is from Kansas, and his deep love for the state is extremely evident. Its a painful experience seeing what it has morphed into for him. Beyond that though, this look into small towns is unique and surprising. I feel like I learned a lot.
It's also fun seeing the SMALL ways the books are dated. I had not heard the phrase Neocon in so long.
The bad parts are that Thomas Frank trends to RANT. He dedicates several chapters at the end of his book to preaching. I AGREE with everything he says, but its monotonous after awhile. Luckily, most of this is the last few chapters and is easily to avoid if you want to enjoy the rest of this actually...very beautiful book on the changing landscapes of rural America from an anticapitalist perspective.
The topics:
- Conservatives using culture wars to distract from wealthy people waging class wars
This one is pretty simple, Basically, this is something we have known for a long time. Conservatives have spent a long time getting poor people on their side and voting against their own interests by appealing to one issue voters and stirring up a latest "culture war" drama.
- the weakening of unions and subsequent erosion of union heavy rural areas
You get some really fascinating walkthroughs on the collapse of several Kansas towns and cities.
- Conservative pushing the idea that that the "wealthy elite" is more of a "vibe" vs actually about having money.
the elites are Starbucks-drinking urbanites who make 30k a year. Donald Trump is an everyman, as is Elomn Musk. This is an extremely interesting point made that feels MOST relevant today because of how much more true it is. Conservatives manage to shield themselves from being considered part of the ruling class because they talk about "drinking beers and praising jesus".
The most interesting part of the book was Frank walking us through the wasteland of Kansas- a once thriving socialist/union-heavy state that has fallen into a deep state of disrepair. Frank is from Kansas, and his deep love for the state is extremely evident. Its a painful experience seeing what it has morphed into for him. Beyond that though, this look into small towns is unique and surprising. I feel like I learned a lot.
It's also fun seeing the SMALL ways the books are dated. I had not heard the phrase Neocon in so long.
The bad parts are that Thomas Frank trends to RANT. He dedicates several chapters at the end of his book to preaching. I AGREE with everything he says, but its monotonous after awhile. Luckily, most of this is the last few chapters and is easily to avoid if you want to enjoy the rest of this actually...very beautiful book on the changing landscapes of rural America from an anticapitalist perspective.
nbcknwlf's review against another edition
3.0
Just ok. The book's entire premise is neatly summarized in the Epilogue and you can probably skip the rest and just read that to get the meat of what the author wants to say if you're short on time. I found the rest of the book tedious. Frank makes a lot of astute observations but seems so intent on demonstrating why someone would be an idiot to believe anything said by conservatives that it just comes off as condescending and beating a dead horse. The most interesting things to me were the historical bits showing shift in perspective - i felt those spoke for themselves pretty well but then he just keeps beating you over the head with his take on it.
It's a decent book, and definitely timely in the wake of the recent election even tho it is over 10 years old. Glad I read it, not sure i recommend it. I dont think it would convince anyone that didn't already agree with Frank. Maybe it's not supposed to.
It's a decent book, and definitely timely in the wake of the recent election even tho it is over 10 years old. Glad I read it, not sure i recommend it. I dont think it would convince anyone that didn't already agree with Frank. Maybe it's not supposed to.
mcatsambas's review against another edition
4.0
It was interesting to see how today's sociopolitical dynamics played out in 2004.
jjgerend's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.0
The funny thing about this book is that one of the main threads is how the left has been alienating rural America, but the complex vocabulary used in this book probably alienates most people. Still liked it though!
jcschildbach's review against another edition
5.0
Funny and insightful, but kind of sad, Frank explores how Republicans on the higher end of the economic spectrum have managed to create Republicans on the lower end of the economic spectrum by duping them into believing that Republicans stand for Christian values, all while promoting a large number of policies that would make Satan ashamed to have his name tied to them--and doing absolutely nothing but paying lip service to those social issues that have drawn in the duped.
docfaustus's review against another edition
3.0
This book seems, to me, to be much more editorial than research. The author sets out his theory at the start (Why does Kansas et al keep moving further and further right? Backlash!), but I don't think ever offered any sort of researched case for it.
There's lots of info here describing the shift of Kansas politics from staunchly progressive to far-right, but I don't think he successfully argues that that shift is because of the reasons he lays out.
There's lots of info here describing the shift of Kansas politics from staunchly progressive to far-right, but I don't think he successfully argues that that shift is because of the reasons he lays out.
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting, but also scary and depressing, especially when he talks about the anti-intellectualism at the heart of much of the current conservative movement.
rica165's review against another edition
2.0
Though informative, this book tells you in way too many chapters what could have been summarized in a rolling stone article.