A review by shoulder_pads
On Compromise: Art, Politics, and the Fate of an American Ideal by Rachel Greenwald Smith

4.0

An excellent and very topical read that provides sweeping overviews in some--but not all--of the ways in which society expects, and almost demands we compromise. From the books we read, to the celebrities we look up to, to the laws that govern us, we've reached a point where it feels as though compromise is the end goal of any agenda, despite compromises by design requiring sacrifices (often human rights and liberties--especially for minorities). I found this book to be very thought provoking, and found myself bringing up points made in On Compromise in conversations.

I especially enjoyed the essays "Her Hand on My Octave," "The Missouri Compromise," and "Compromise in Lockdown." Up until this point I haven't really cared to read literature or commentary on the state of lockdown since it's felt very draining to hear commentary about my lived reality while I have no promise of the status quo changing any time soon, but I felt her essay on the compromises of lockdown and how we've expected the virus to relent to us since we've done our part felt entirely spot on to my experiences and interactions this past year and it felt validating to have them immortalized in published literature.