A review by unionmack
The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism by Thomas Frank

5.0

I wish books like this were assigned in schools, but it’s apparent to any cynic why they aren’t. We don’t want the average Joe banding together with his many compatriots to start questioning just why their lot in life is so different than those of the boss, the capitalist, and so on. Frank dispels the myths besetting the word ‘populism’ and the many historical movements that have borne its title, whether proudly claimed as a mantle or as a derogative from outside. Like the author, I too wish ‘populism’ was reclaimed from its right wing, elitist pretenders and returned to the rightful hands of working people. Frank doesn’t provide a handbook as to how that could be done here, but the history he so deftly brings to life inspires, educates, and motivates action in and of itself.