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The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America by Greg Grandin
marydith's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
3.75
Honestly the main thing I took away from this is that the US has always been just as horrible in every period of its history as it is right now, and there have always been people fighting to make it better. Which is equal parts terrifying and weirdly comforting.
highspeed's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.0
"The End of the Myth," authored by Greg Grandin, is an insightful exploration into the concept of the frontier as an instrumental political tool throughout the entire breadth of American history. The author takes the reader on a journey, tracing the evolution and manipulation of this concept, particularly under the era of Trump.
The book is a detailed narrative that unfolds the way the myth of the frontier, initially associated with endless opportunities, cheap land, and freedom, has been contorted and reshaped to emphasize scarcity and protectionism in the Trump era. This shift is embodied in the idea that we have to protect what is ours, a stark contrast to the traditional myth of endless growth.
Grandin posits that the frontier once acted as a vent for extremism; without it, such extremism turns inward, leading to a surge in internal conflicts and societal tensions. This notion is one of the key points the author emphasizes, offering a unique perspective on the current political climate in America.
The book is a valuable read for politicians who have a keen interest in history, as it provides a historical lens through which current political ideologies and strategies can be understood. It's also beneficial for those interested in understanding how historical concepts and myths can be manipulated to serve contemporary political agendas.
Overall, "The End of the Myth" serves as a critical commentary on America's political evolution and the instrumental role of the frontier myth in shaping this trajectory.
kwheeles's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent American history focussing on the role of the 'frontier' in American society. Told from a progressive viewpoint (yes, there were people on the far side of the frontier). Leads up to the current days lack of a frontier (we've taken enough land, let's brick up the entrances now), and the replacement of the frontier 'safety valve' (for adventure, new opportunities, outlet for violence and identification of a necessary common enemy) by endless war. Thought-provoking stuff.
larryerick's review against another edition
3.0
Yes, this book was written by a history professor, but it does not read like a typical history book, and certainly not like a school textbook. Despite a bit too much academia wording in the early going, for me, it read much more like a long -- okay, extra long -- magazine article in something like The Atlantic or The New Yorker. The author has a point to make about the United States, its very lengthy infatuation with the "frontier" and how the lack and/or significant changes in what the frontier is, at any given time in history, has led the country to, well, walls. Heading out to the "frontier" to get away from other folks and find happiness has now transitioned to putting up walls to keep away from those folks we could just leave behind before, with the promise that the pot of gold was waiting for us when got there. Yes, I'm oversimplifying. The author really brings out a lot of reasons to support his conclusion, much of which will get questioning responses from both sides of the political spectrum -- the Right will just call it lies -- but, trust me, I've read enough from numerous other sources to know he isn't making these things up. For example, Heather Cox Richardson's recent book, How the South Won the Civil War, is a good parallel piece, covering westward expansion of the United States in some very similar ways, if not exactly going for the same conclusions. I wish the phrasing the author took didn't match so well or so often with that of pundits more inclined to pull the wool over readers eyes, but the facts I already knew allowed me to trust him more than I might have otherwise to get all the way to end. I think a lot of readers will gain insight to America's history that they might not have had otherwise. Important insights. But that will only happen to those who are open-minded enough to realize how much our history has been packaged and sold for particular consumption. For example, how can a person who notoriously directed significant harm to major groups of people of color, end up be honored with his picture on some of America's most commonly held currency. Great marketing, I guess.
revremishores's review against another edition
5.0
Ok I know my last review said I wasn't into history, but this is definitely history and I definitely loved it. From the first white settlers of the Americas all the way thru Trump's presidency, this book traces how the myth of the frontier informed policy and culture until it gradually morphed into the myth of the border. This answered a lot of questions I've had about why US culture is so different from other high-income nations: we lean further right, were more individualistic and resistant to social programs. This book helped me see the generational values entrenched in our founders and onward that have contributed to the culture we have now.