Rate: 3/5
Medium: Audiobook
Overview (No Spoilers): Whenever I encounter people reading in public, you better believe I go in full stalker mode trying to sneak a peak at the title of the book that the poor unknowing soul has their nose imbedded. One such sleuthful episode took place, on our ferry back from Dry Tortugas National Park whereupon I determined the title of the book one of my fellow passengers was reading to be White Trash. Due to growing up in a very rural community, upon seeing the title I did the one thing any book lover should never do and promptly judged a book by the cover, feeling both defensive and insulted. As such, I promptly disregarded this book as material obviously not worth my time. Fast forwarding a few weeks, I came across this title again at my local library and decided I might as well read this trigger inducing book in order to justify my affronted country pride. It should be no surprise in that I was wrong with regard to my self-righteous preconceived notions. Isenberg delivers a thought provoking look at the impoverished white population that has been present in America since the first settlers arrived from England. She explored the concepts of the American Dream and how this class of individuals has faired as our nation grew out of its adolescence and into present day. I entered college a young naïve, overly optimistic student who was dismayed upon her sociology professor in Global Cultures dismantling the truth behind the American Dream, which was much of the same message as delivered by Isenberg. I’ve often thought back to the lecture, mostly in defiance of proving that Professor wrong, however found the argument just as edifying in Isenberg’s rendition. White Trash contained an overabundance of information, which led to its biggest fault in my opinion. While Isenberg dove deeply into some subjects, many others she seemingly glossed over within a sentence or two. Overall, I highly recommend reading White Trash with an open mind, especially if you have had minimal interactions with individuals who reside below the poverty line, as I would hope that Isenberg’s book might provide a novel, thought provoking perspective.
As someone who rides the subway to work everyday, I think perhaps the greatest flaw of the Kindle and other such devices is that you can’t peak at what the people around you are reading! I’ve been doing this for years, but it’s getting harder and harder to find new material this way.
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I’m glad I’m not the only one that looks for the titles! I guess we will have to start interrupting people and asking. 🙂
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It sounds an interesting read. I’d like to read something similar about class in the UK.
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The beginning on this book highlights living conditions for the lower class in England when settling the colonies. It was really fascinating!
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I just finished this book and I will have a review posted eventually. I have a few others before. This book is within my field (intersection between science, race, and class) so it really appealed to me.
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What did you think about this book upon reading? I love coming across books that are within my field such as The Gene by Siddhartha Mukherjee.
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I really enjoyed it. A lot of work has focused on the relationship and consequences of class on African Americans. The book explores the creation of a new pseudo-race of the off-cast poor whites. It adds a lot to the picture of the American class structure.
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Have you read Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance? It’s an excellent book on the topic, and doesn’t get bogged down in details.
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Personally I love detail! However, this is the second time someone has brought up Hillbilly Elegy. I will need to look into this book!
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I’ll have to pick it up.
My family is from rural Ohio, though my mother escape by joining the military. It sounds like I’d be close to home.
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I think you’d really enjoy all the detail in this book Elizabeth! We do love our details!
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Thanks for the review! I had been wondering if this book is worth the read. I think I’ll try Hillbilly Elegy instead. It sounds like that will be a more intriging read on a similar topic.
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Thanks Rachel! This is the second mention I’ve heard of the Hillbilly Elegy. I will need to look into this book!
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Couldn’t help but share, this is me, too….”Whenever I encounter people reading in public, you better believe I go in full stalker mode trying to sneak a peak at the title”
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Thanks Amitesh! I’m glad I’m not the only one!
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Nice review!
I also try to sneak a peek at what titles people have in their hands. I’m also not as naive about the American dream as I once was before.
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Thanks! 🙂 I’m glad I’m not the only one sneaking a peak at what people are reading!
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Interesting review, I feel I also would have been skeptical going in with that title, but it sounds like some interesting info. I also wanted to say I have nominated you for the unique blogger award, you can see the info here: https://milesofpagesblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/31/unique-blogger-award/
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Thanks AJ! And thanks for the award! ❤ I hope I don't offend you if I don't reciprocate a post! I'm so busy right now I can hardly keep up with my book reviews!
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It’s no problem! I’d love to see your answers but I totally get it. Life is insane!! And you are very welcome!
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Nothin’ wrong with snooping at what titles people are reading.
Just this morning on the bus I noticed the guy usually library books about movie directors had his own copy of Neal Stephenson’s Snow Crash.
And I’m pretty blatant about staring at the books in other peoples houses.
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I’ve only read Stephenson’s Seveneves and loved it! Have you read any of his other books? Agreed on the books in houses! I love seeing other people’s collections.
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I’ve only read Snow Crash and The Diamond Age.
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What did you think about them? Are they science fiction?
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They are science fiction. I did an entry on The Diamond Age at http://wp.me/p4jmub-VX. Snow Crash is very fun in parts but not entirely successful as a novel.
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I’ll have to look up your post! Thanks for the recommendation!
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I’ve seen this at the library and read a bit of it but there was a hold on it and I didn’t have the time to commit to it. Seemed edifying, it’s a good thing you gave it a second chance!
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I’m glad I did too! It was a very well done look at history from a unique perspective!
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This book reminds me an awful lot of “Yesterday’s People” by Jack E. Weller — guess I’ll have to add both to my reading list (although from you described, my college might end up assigning it anyway :P). Nice review c:
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Thanks! 🙂 It was definitely an interesting read that I’m still finding myself thinking about. I haven’t heard of Yesterday’s People before. I’ll have to look into it!
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My husband really liked this book. I need to give it a try. Thanks for the post.
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It is definitely an interesting read Martie! Please let me know what you think when you get a chance to read it. 😀
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Will do.
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[…] The Critiquing Chemist gave it 3 stars. Cupcakes and Machetes gave it 2 stars and gave up. Rachel doesn’t come right out and give it 5 stars, but she does say “read the damn book” a few times. […]
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[…] White Trash by Nancy Isenberg […]
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[…] Elegy first found a place on my TBR list after reading White Trash and having many of my fellow bloggers recommending it as a great follow up read. As so often happens […]
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