Scan barcode
A review by theartolater
A Disease in the Public Mind: A New Understanding of Why We Fought the Civil War by Thomas Fleming
5.0
Thomas Fleming continues to be my favorite popular historian (and, truth be told, one of my favorite historians period). I was first turned onto him with The New Dealer's War, and I try to read what I can of his when I can. When I saw he was taking on the Civil War, I had to request it almost immediately.
I really enjoyed this because, like Fleming's other books, it takes a great point of view on an existing concept and shines a new light on it. This is less a history of the Civil War and more a long-form explanation as to how slavery was the root of the conflict. This isn't exactly a surprise to many who have studied the Civil War, to be clear, but it's one thing to simply argue that it's slavery, and another to see how the question of slavery truly infected all proceedings in America, from the beginning of our nation up until the war. It's definitely something that is diminished in the readings of the post-Revolution, pre-Civil War era.
I liked the new insight into John Quincy Adams, I liked the insight into a lot of legislative dealings. I appreciate John Brown from a historical standpoint again. This is worth a quick read if you like the era or just want a slightly different history book.
I really enjoyed this because, like Fleming's other books, it takes a great point of view on an existing concept and shines a new light on it. This is less a history of the Civil War and more a long-form explanation as to how slavery was the root of the conflict. This isn't exactly a surprise to many who have studied the Civil War, to be clear, but it's one thing to simply argue that it's slavery, and another to see how the question of slavery truly infected all proceedings in America, from the beginning of our nation up until the war. It's definitely something that is diminished in the readings of the post-Revolution, pre-Civil War era.
I liked the new insight into John Quincy Adams, I liked the insight into a lot of legislative dealings. I appreciate John Brown from a historical standpoint again. This is worth a quick read if you like the era or just want a slightly different history book.