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lattermild's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Fatphobia, and Racism
Minor: Misogyny
rhosynmd's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
This felt like one long obituary to his dad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
Minor: Ableism, Drug use, and Genocide
radella_hardwick's review against another edition
3.0
This book gave me some of the vibes and insights I was looking for. So, in that sense, it was a successful reading experience.
However, as the insights I was looking for was the worldview of an American male born in the 1950s who emigrated to the UK (shared characteristics of Bryson and my father) and I didn't like what I found, it was rather less successful as an enjoyable read.
The fatphobia starts almost immediately and persists throughout the whole book as well as general derogatory comments about other people's bodies and disgustingly lascivious comments about young women. Also, the othering language used about people of colour really set my teeth on edge.
This book is interesting as a time-capsule of what the men now in their 60s and 70s, who think of themselves as 'liberal', thought was acceptable to say in the 1980s. But I can't recommend it as having anything substantive and timeless to say about the heart of the USA.
However, as the insights I was looking for was the worldview of an American male born in the 1950s who emigrated to the UK (shared characteristics of Bryson and my father) and I didn't like what I found, it was rather less successful as an enjoyable read.
The fatphobia starts almost immediately and persists throughout the whole book as well as general derogatory comments about other people's bodies and disgustingly lascivious comments about young women. Also, the othering language used about people of colour really set my teeth on edge.
This book is interesting as a time-capsule of what the men now in their 60s and 70s, who think of themselves as 'liberal', thought was acceptable to say in the 1980s. But I can't recommend it as having anything substantive and timeless to say about the heart of the USA.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
Moderate: Racism