Welcome to Litsy!

This is the 3rd time I have borrowed this book from Libby. Every time, a hold came available earlier than I expected. Not going to allow myself to be distracted or tempted by another book this time.

Distracted by knitting? Always.

#knittersoflitsy

We know what class is. Or think we do: economic stratification created by wealth and privilege.

@ShyBookOwl #FirstLineFridays

Today I have a #BLM adjacent read, it is not by a black author so will not count for #BlackPublishingPower, it isn‘t even specifically about racism. It is about classism in the US, which has led to an ongoing us vs them for centuries. Those in power have benefited by creating strife between the poor white classes and recently freed slaves, & that infighting has continually enriched the top 1%. Many of the historical tactics to keep those ⤵️

A friend reminded me recently that history is written by the winners. No where is that more true than the founding of this country. This books goes into the different aspects of class in this country in ways history books never would have and serves as a reminder about treating people as human rather than by class or race.

Learning how class contributes to racism.

Omg this one! We are a country of lazy masses. Lol. No. But seriously, it discusses how class has always divided our country. It rewires how you think about slavery and working class. Trash is just a way to classify a sub group of people who live on the fringe and usually do the jobs no one else wants to do. Trash has evolved over the years from group to group. Such a timely book to read and long one!

History doesn‘t repeat itself. Instead, it‘s patterns of human behavior that repeat, as James Holland, author of “Normandy ‘44: D-Day and the Battle for France,” pointed out on NPR and WBURs “Here & Now.” Understanding history means understanding people. But if that‘s not enough for you, and it shouldn‘t be, consider this: https://pickingbooks.com/blog/a-book-blog-inspired-by-history

A tale of America that explores, in well-researched prose, a thorough depiction of America. Thought-provoking.

Well researched, comprehensive look at class in America. Starts with the importation of class distinctions from the earliest settlers and continues up to today, including pop culture and reality TV.

Roughly a third of the way through this one. Informative read about a complex topic. I can see why there are mixed feelings about it, and why it wouldn‘t appeal or be well received by others. However, I‘m enjoying it so far.

#historyfan #class

A well researched and broad look at the history of class in America, from the colonists to the civil war, and on to current politics and pop culture. #nonfiction #audiobook

A really well researched and in depth look at the unspoken class system in the United States from the colonial period through the present.

I thought this book was wonderful. It is thought provoking and extremely well annotated. Full disclosure: These are my people. My family comes from some of the early populations the author describes. There are echoes of our past struggles as a nation that are, whether we like it or not, still mightily reverberating today. I recommend this book to anyone interested in our nation‘s history that occurred off the beaten path.

Finished listening to this earlier today. It was... ok. The focus was mainly on poor white Southerners throughout American history (told mostly through lens of more affluent historical figures) rather than a cultural telling as the main title suggests. Felt like foreeeeeever to get through the colonial parts and then only the last couple chapters or so were more oriented toward what "white trash" means in modern vernacular.

Did some audio stitching yesterday while bread dough rose. This is for a friend, who is a big HP fan, who had a tough week last week.
And the book is interesting so far - seems like a good fit for a history buff.

On #letterI for #LitsyAtoZ -- actually didn't have tons of options on my tbr. Anyone have any thoughts on these? Leaning towards White Trash or Snow Child (and the latter would fit in my sff by women marathon)

Just finished listening to this one on #overdrive. Interesting, but also sad and frustrating. Illustrates plainly that inequality isn't new, and points out the ways the divides are created, widened, and judged. Definitely a book I won't forget.

Long drive, may as well learn something. #historynerd #historybuff #nerdsrule #sadbuttrue #Overdrive

It's a beautiful day for an #audiowalk.

What I loved about this book was all the interesting facts she weaves throughout. Unfortunately though it felt very surface level. It seems she tried to tackle too much at once. She also seems to repeat the same thing over and over. But if you are a history nerd like myself it is definitely worth your time.

Dewey what colorful language you employ at this most desperate of times!

Asiago bagel, jalapeno cream cheese, peanut butter cup
latte and a book at my fav historic log house coffee place, Coffeeville. It's a little slice of heaven in Jackson WI

Insightful read! I really appreciated the history & sociology lessons to better understand the inbred issues of classism & racism in the USA.

And speaking of class issues...everyone that wanted more from Hillbilly Elegy should read this. Isenberg is an historian and this fantastically well researched book moves through the history of class in America that culminates in our current catastrophe. This is a chunkster but definitely worth the read.

A quiet Saturday evening at home is my kind of heaven.

Oh my Mr. Thomas Jefferson, that is one big personal library you have there.

Three words I never thought I'd see in print...

I wonder if this folktale helped to keep kids on the proper path... hehehehehe

It's that special time of night to have me time.

I ♡ when authors tell it with no filter. Just a stright arrow line of words.

Look what I just learned. Hummmmm...

You had me at White Trash! Ooooooo this is going to be fun.

Why, Nancy, why? Why did you make this book so dry! Arg! I‘m bailing at about the same point on audio as I did in print. It reminds me of a high school history text, which is not a good association for me and I love nonfiction, so this is frustrating. I‘m glad so many people enjoyed this one, but I‘m done for good now. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Wake up an hour early unable to sleep? Sounds like reading time to me!

This book was super enjoyable and takes a close look at an important facet of American life. It's the kind of read that has you learning interesting facts, which you then you as conversation starters with everyone you talk to for several days afterward.

Ok, I bailed on this one in print a while back, so I‘m going to try it again on audio. Wish me luck!

I'm not sure if this is a #view, but as I'm reading on the couch this morning I have a dog curled up by my feet, and another snoring away on the ottoman by my head. It's pretty impossible not to look at her, she's so stinking cute. Very distracting. #seasonsreadings2017 @RealLifeReading

Cold temperatures have driven me to bed early tonight, might as well get in some light reading while I try to warm up 😊 #currentread

White Trash has lots of good information about a topic I‘m interested in but it‘s written as a dry, academic, fact-dump that dulled my enjoyment of reading it.

DNF, unfortunately. This just wasn‘t what I expected. I found myself totally spacing out for long parts of the audiobook and it didn‘t really feel compelled to continue with this book.

I'm bailing on this for now. Non fiction is pretty hit or miss for me, and I can't focus on this one. I'm interested in the subject, so might come back to it at a point when my mind is a bit more settled.

"When you turn and election into a three-ring circus, there's always a chance that the dancing bear will win."

Fascinating reading, and I'm not even 100 pages in! I always have said no one is disposable, with the exception perhaps of heinous types like Manson, Bundy, etc. They should be locked away to keep us safe.

I knew that Britain colonized using children, women, and convicts. People without standing. I didn't know the half of it, though, because, of course, who would teach something so horrible, whether true or not?

"Tugwell, however, refused to engage in a theatrical debate over what it meant to be a 'man of the people.' America already had a long history of politicians pretending to identify with the earnest plowman. In the South, it was more than a past time – it was everything."

"'Can a nation call itself free if it finds itself periodically on the verge of bankruptcy and starvation [despite] the fact that it possesses all the materials of the good life?' He meant that freedom was compromised when a nation allow the majority of the people to suffer devastating poverty."

😫