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A review by thenovelmaura
Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Oluo
challenging
informative
medium-paced
4.5
I've been wanting to read this book since it came out, so I'm glad 2022 was the year I finally checked out the audiobook from the library. I don't always love when authors read their own books, but I thought Oluo did a great job here. I also appreciate all the emotional labor that went into this one, as she acknowledged at the end that these were difficult topics to write about and research.
This one was formatted in such an engaging way, with each chapter showing how a specific theme or issue that we see today had its roots in early American history. Even the events or policies I had already heard about were given additional color and detail, and there were plenty of historical figures that were new to me, like Shirley Chisholm.
Admittedly, this often made me really angry on my walks to work, so it's both a frustrating and a worthwhile read! As a burgeoning nonfiction reader, I recommend adding this one to your list.
This one was formatted in such an engaging way, with each chapter showing how a specific theme or issue that we see today had its roots in early American history. Even the events or policies I had already heard about were given additional color and detail, and there were plenty of historical figures that were new to me, like Shirley Chisholm.
Admittedly, this often made me really angry on my walks to work, so it's both a frustrating and a worthwhile read! As a burgeoning nonfiction reader, I recommend adding this one to your list.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Hate crime, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence and Police brutality
Minor: Mass/school shootings