Book Review: All the Knowledge in the World

Simon Garfield, All the Knowledge in the World: the Extraordinary History of the Encyclopedia. New York: William Morrow, 2023. ISBN: 9780063292277.

Genre: history

Subgenre: encyclopedias, books, reading, literacy

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch, Madison County (KY) Public Library 

Note: William Morrow is an imprint of Harper Collins, one of the four publishers that I am boycotting due to their lawsuit against Internet Archive. However, I was reading this book prior to March 27, 2023 when my boycott went in effect. I am posting the review, but I am not actively sharing it on social media.

 

It is not often I pick up a book, and I want to keep reading, pausing other books I may be reading at the time. I always enjoy bibliophile books, and this one fits the bill. I will say before I go on I had concerns once I realized Garfield also wrote To the Letter: a Celebration of the Lost Art of Letter Writing (link to my review). I did not care much for that book, so I was concerned. However, it seems Garfield has improved over time since this book is hard to put down. It is not flawless, but it is pretty damn good. 

By now, encyclopedias, especially general interest ones like Britannica or World Book, are seen as nothing more than obsolete relics from a pre-Internet era. To many today, the idea of trying to put all the knowledge in the world, or at least a good part of it, in a set of books may seem ridiculous. Yet before the Internet and a little site known as Wikipedia, attempting to put as much knowledge as possible in a set of books was a noble goal. Garfield looks at the history of encyclopedia from the early days to their fate today, where they are mostly forgotten and unwanted. 

Garfield chooses a witty way to arrange his book. He arranges the chapters as encyclopedia entries in alphabetical order from A to Z. Within that arrangement, he delivers a chronological history of the encyclopedia with a few "distractions" along the way. The "distractions" are like amusing historical asides; they give the reader small breaks in the main reading. In addition, if you want to learn more, the author offers a list of books for further reading at the end of the book. Those books are in addition to the various footnotes throughout the book. While Garfield does use footnotes, the notes are not excessive and often point to articles or other items of interest. 

At times, this book took me back to my childhood. Back then I had a set of yellow volumes known as the Illustrated World Encyclopedia. It was a set for children and young adults with easy to read entries and some illustrations. I remember at times pulling down a volume and reading some entries before bedtime. It was one of my reading pleasures in younger days. Sadly, I grew up and moved on, and my parents likely weeded it out when they moved to other places over time. But those good memories of reading from that encyclopedia remain, and Garfield invoked them for me once more.

The book does have some limitations. Encyclopedias are a huge topic, so Garfield has to put in some limits. For this book, he mostly focuses on the West, on the European and American tradition. Others may get a mention, like some Chinese volumes, but the focus is "within the framework of Western knowledge-building" (13). That on its own is a lot of ground to cover, but I am sure there will be critics to question or complain about the lack of diversity. I'd say maybe a next step is a history of encyclopedias in other parts of the world, but for now those are the choices the author made. Note also that specialist encyclopedias are not included either.

A choice I did find questionable was the very long material on Wikipedia. Granted, whole books can be written and have been written on Wikipedia. The author's coverage here seems a bit much. A bit more editing and summarizing could've made that part a bit more concise. After all the previous interesting stories, that part of the book seemed to drag, and at times some of the details seemed petty or a bit excessive. The chapter does look at some known issues with Wikipedia such as Wikipedians' notorious bullying and editing battles, but it was still a lot for the one topic. 

For those who wonder how a history of encyclopedias can be interesting I say it's the human endeavor. This is a history with drama, with some big personalities as well as common people, with decent people as well as con men and less than honest business people. If you enjoy some bits of drama and a bit of scandal now and then in your history books, this book has them. 

Overall, I really liked this book. It is interesting. The chapters by topic are mostly short, which makes for easy reading. If you enjoy history and/or reading about books, this book is a good option. This is also a good selection for libraries, and I am glad my local public library acquired it. It is a good choice for public and academic libraries. 

4 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

 

On trust, encyclopedias, and loss in the era of fake news: 

"Despite its numerous and inevitable errors, I have always trusted the intentions of the printed encyclopedia and its editors. That we don't have the space in our homes (and increasingly in our libraries) for a bit set of books suggests a new set of priorities; depth yielding to the shallows. The process of making an encyclopedia informs the worth we place on its contents, and to neglect this worth is to welcome a form of cultural amnesia" (9).

 

What the book is about: 

"This book is as much about the value of considered learning as it is about encyclopedias themselves. It is about the vast commitment required to make those volumes-- an astonishing energy force-- and the belief that such a thing will be worthwhile. Those who bought them did so in the hope of purchasing perennial value. An encyclopedia is a publishing achievement like no other, and something worth celebrating in almost every manifestation" (12). 

 

The author on what the book is not, its focus: 

"This is not an encyclopedia of encyclopedias; it is not a catalogue or analysis of every set in the world, just those I judge the most significant or interesting, or indicative of a turning point in how we view the world" (12).  

What the old volumes show: 

"These old volumes show us what we thought we knew, and we discard them with a rash disregard for the work of our forebears. Ancient editions carry a secret knowledge of their own, the enshrined accretion of learning" (361).

Books from the further reading list for possible TBR: 

• Blair, Ann, Information: a Historical Companion (2021). 
• Boyles, Denis, Everything Explained that is Explainable: On the Creation of Encyclopaedia Britannica's Celebrated Eleventh Edition, 1910-1911. (2016). (Subject to my boycott, Knopf is owned by Penguin Random House, so not anytime soon). 
• Lynch, Jack, You Could Look It Up: the Reference Shelf from Ancient Babylon to Wikipedia (2016). 

 

 

Book Review: Kilo

Toby Muse, Kilo: Inside the Deadliest Cocaine Cartels--From the Jungles to the Streets. New York: William Morrow, 2020. ISBN: 978062905291.

 

Genre: nonfiction

Subgenre: economic, politics, Latin America, Colombia, crime, drug trade

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

 

 

Toby Muse takes us on the journey of a kilo of cocaine from the coca fields of Colombia to the smuggling of cocaine out of Colombia. Along the way, he meets and talks to all sorts of people from coca farmers to dealers and assassins to law enforcement and drug lords. It is a fascinating journey that looks at not only the drug trade but also how that trade drives corruption and violence in Colombia. To make matters worse, the U.S. War on Drugs does little to help given that the United States is the largest consumer of cocaine, its biggest customer. Wherever cocaine goes, money, flash, and power follow for some, but after the initial boom soon misery, violence, and destruction follow for most everyone else anywhere near the cocaine trade. 

 

Muse pays attention to detail, and he also weaves an interesting and engaging narrative. Very often the writing is lyrical, poetic, and rich in imagery, specially when describing the countryside. At times you feel like you are there. The narrative is well paced, and it draws you in. It is just a very interesting read. In addition to being entertaining, we learn about Colombia, its people, its politics, and geography. We go from farms to poor slums to night clubs. He also shows how cocaine not only affects Colombia but also affects neighbors like Venezuela and countries further away like Mexico. Cocaine is adaptable, and its traders and drug lords are highly ingenious, challenging those wanting to stop the trade. In that cat and mouse game we get a lot of the story's drama. We also get insight on the politics and history of the region as well as U.S. relations with the region. Muse packs a lot to learn in this book, and he does so in an engaging and interesting way. It is a very well written book. 

Overall, this is going to be one of the best books I've read this year. It is interesting and informative. Muse spent 15 years reporting in Colombia, and he brings that knowledge to this book along with stories of those involved in the cocaine trade as the kilo moves along. This is a book I definitely recommend to anyone interested in the topic. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes: 

Much of rural Colombia is abandoned by the government: 

"That the state needed pressure from violent insurgents just to provide services shows how abandoned parts of rural Colombia have been" (2). 

I was reading this book in the week of January 6, 2021 when the right wing conservative nutjobs rioted and stormed the U.S. Capitol in their feeble attempt to overturn the U.S. presidential election. The United States was lucky this was mostly a disorganized mob. Insurgents and guerrillas in Latin America are actually organized and had specific ideologies often seeking to help the people (well, at least until they then became narco soldiers. Cocaine does corrupt even the virtuous). Point is in places like Colombia insurgents rebel to demand things like basic human services. Americans in the U.S. throw hissy fits because they disliked the result of a fair democratic election and could not care less who they hurt in the process. Doing something like rising to demand basic human services is not something on Americans' radar. Big difference. 

The effect of the Spanish conquest in the region, and this is more than just Colombia: 

"The Spanish invasion: genocide, mass rape, slavery, bloody baptisms, entire civilizations destroyed, ancestral dreams snuffed out. Annihilations so complete entire civilizations were erased, with no survivors left to remember them. The Spanish conquest of the Americas, history's greatest atrocity. So grotesque, so obscene it damned the continent. Five hundred years later, the curse lives on and dooms these countries to corruption, bloodshed, stagnation. The past is never dead in the these lands" (14-15). 

On Colombia's rural people: 

"Everyone here is self-sufficient, able to vet, mechanic, doctor, cook, electrician or farmhand as the moment demands. A lifetime of abandon by the government has made Colombia's rural people a resilient breed" (26). 

As usual, U.S. aid in places like Colombia aids the violent and the corrupt: 

"Known as the 'false positives,' the scandal broke in 2008. The Colombian army-- backed with US aid-- was slaughtering thousands of civilians and dressing them up as rebels in return for bonuses, promotions, holiday days. It was the logic of a civil war that was judged solely on body counts" (27). 

I went ahead and looked that story up. You can find an entry of the "False Positives" Scandal on Wikipedia. There was even a United Nations investigation (PDF document) on this matter. 

The early boom stage of coca: 

"Once a few farmers start planting coca, the price of food goes up as it has to be brought from outside. That pushes more farmers into growing coca. Soon, all the farmers in town are growing coca. Coca's takeover is complete. This is every coca town's golden age-- when they revel in the money. And the killings have yet to begin" (52). 

Then the prostitutes come, and eventually the money attracts guerrillas and drug lords and the boom becomes a bust of misery and violence for the locals. 

More on the U.S. clandestine involvement in Colombia: 

"Colombia was the test run for the United States' latest experiment: to hire private mercenaries to carry out actions in war zones. This policy would be greatly expanded in Afghanistan and Iraq. But it started here, fumigating poor farmers' fields" (70).

That was part of President Bill Clinton's Plan Colombia. 

The reason the labs that turn coca paste into cocaine are not going anywhere any time soon if ever: 

"Weekly, the police launch operations to dismantle these labs, seizing cocaine and blowing up the structures. All it takes is another $50,000 and seven days of construction and you've got another lab ready to produce the cocaine. The demand isn't going anywhere, so neither are the labs" (96-97). 

And where is the biggest demand for cocaine? In the good old U.S. of A. 

After the jungle and narco militias but before it leaves Colombia or enters local markets, the kilo goes into urban areas. As in the jungles, the urban narcos do create a lot of jobs, even with the violence: 

"Ahead is the world of the urban narcos, those experts in getting the cocaine out of the country and the dollars in. The kilos enter into a vast ecosystem of cocaine. Drug lords, accountants, cartel soldiers, killers for hire, lawyers, witches, lovers, and pimps all work together feeding off each other in a world funded by cocaine" (97). 

On a side note, it is interesting, to me at least, that many involved in the narco trade are very superstitious and reliance on witches and similar is pretty strong. This going along with the strong Catholicism of Latin America. 

The Assassin's Prayer, said in front of the Virgin Mary: 

 

"If there are eyes, don't let them see me

If there are hands, don't let them grab me

If there are feet, don't let them catch up to me

Don't let me be surprised from behind

Don't let my death be violent, 

Don't let my blood spill, 

You who see all, 

Know well my sins, 

But also, you know my faith

Don't abandon me. . . Amen"  (136).

 

In a way, drug lords really run Colombia: 

"Men like Alex are the shadow power in Colombia, the leaders of an alternate society that runs parallel to the legal one. They are some of the wealthiest men on the continent and wield the power of life and death over all around them. For all the riches, it's a precarious life. Authorities and rivals are always around the corner, waiting to send Alex to prison or to the grave" (171). 

The dirty secret of the drug war in Latin America: 

"The dirty secret of the drug war in Latin America is how many drug lords start off as police and soldiers. Fighting cocaine, they're exposed to her, seduced by her. It's the perfect training for future traffickers-- they see how the business works up close, learning the chinks in the security forces' armor" (176). 

In the end, the government never really loses (even if they are not really in control overall), as Alex the drug lord explains: 

"'The authorities never lose. When you think about it, we're the suckers. They work with us and they get rich. And if we go down, then they take the credit for our capture and then they make deals with any trafficker who will replace us' says Alex, with a laugh that says the joke is not funny" (180). 

Top Nonfiction Read in 2020

Out of the various nonfiction books I read in 2020, these are ones I consider the top ones for the year. I made this list from books I rated either 4 or 5 stars. The list is in no particular order. Links go to my reviews of the books. 

A Brotherhood Betrayed: the Man Behind the Rise and Fall of Murder Inc. 

 

 

Sleeping Around in America: Revisiting the Roadside Motel

 

 

 Words Onscreen: the Fate of Reading in a Digital World

 

Surrender, White People! Our Unconditional Terms for Peace

 

 

Whiskey Women: the Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey

 

 

 

Wise Guy: Life in a Mafia Family

 

 

 

 

Booknote: Where the Bodies Were Buried

T.J. English, Where the Bodies Were Buried: Whitey Bulger and the World that Made Him. New York: William Morrow, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-06-229098-4.

Genre: nonfiction

Subgenre: true crime, Boston, New England, trials

Format: hardcover

Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

The author was present every day at Whitey Bulger's trial. He also researched and did in person interviews with criminal associates, retired FBI agents, victims and their families. The result is this very good and well researched book on Bulger's reign of terror in Boston as well as the U.S. Government's corruption and protected and enabled Bulger for years.

The main theme is the drama between the prosecution and the defense. The prosecution wants to put Bulger away, and they have plenty of evidence to do so, including a lot of testimony from informants and collaborating criminals, some of which may have been as bad or worse than Bulger. That is a question the author raises in the book: the price of cutting deals with criminals to catch another criminal. In addition, the prosecution wants to do its best to hide any evidence of law enforcement and government corruption that aided Bulger. With a judge that was relatively friendly to the prosecution, and a lot of bluster and outright bullying in some instances, bullying mostly allowed by the judge, the prosecution succeeded in keeping most if not all of the veil up.

The defense naturally wanted to put the U.S. Government's corruption and negligence on display for the world to see the conditions that created Bulger's terror. As noted, they were hindered from that. Another hindrance the defense faced was Bulger's obstinate refusal to admit he was an FBI informant, despite plenty of evidence that he was. This choice basically hobbled the defense in various ways. By the way, no one expected Bulger to go free, but for the most part the government did get away with their misdeeds without being held accountable.

The author's narrative is interesting and engaging. Author alternates between trial accounts and conversations and interviews with parties involved. We get a pretty broad picture of Bulger's world and how that world shaped and enabled him. Compared to other books on the topic, the author raises various questions and points other authors may miss, or more likely chose not to ask. At a bit over 400 pages, this is a lengthy book, but as I said, it is interesting. The author uses different characters he interviews to weave the story and fill in the parts missing if you just go by the trial. The author's case is compelling. As he writes, "in the end, the System protects itself" (414). Law enforcement and the government do not come out well in this book. For the FBI, this is another chapter in their long history of shady tactics and corruption along with the U.S. Department of Justice. If you already had reasons to view the U.S. Government and its enforcement agencies with suspicion, this book will add more evidence and more reasons to be wary. After all, that same government allowed innocent men to go to jail to protect corrupt informants (yea, read the book for that story).

Overall, this was good, interesting reading on a very dark chapter in Boston and New England crime history. It is engaging and well written. Of the many books on the topic, this may be one of the better ones so far. I will consider seeking this author's other books as well down the road.

4 out of 5 stars.

* * * * *

Additional reading notes:

The author on writing the book and the trial:

"As with other writers, I came to the trial with an 'agenda' of sorts. It was my hope that the People of the United States v. James J. Bulger would be a final accounting of the entire Bulger scandal, not only laying out the full cast of characters that had enabled Bulger-- all the way up the chain of command to Washington D.C.-- but also delving into the historical antecedents that helped create Bulger in the first place" (18).

The trial pretty much failed in that regard, so the author had to put the rest of the pieces together with research, interviews, so on.

Janet Uhlar, juror number 12, went on to raise questions, be critical of the process. A key question she often pondered during the trial, and one I certainly asked as I was reading the book:

"Why Whitey Bulger? What was it about Bulger that made the government feel they needed to make unconscionable deals with men who were as bad-- or worse-- than he was" (16, emphasis in the book).

 

Another side theme in the book is that Bulger generated a cottage industry of books about him, his deeds, and his associates. Some of those books were written, or "written," by his associates. If you want to keep learning more about Bulger and his world, these may be of interest but take with a grain of salt. Retired law enforcement also got in on the cottage industry. Some examples:

• Pat Nee wrote A Criminal and an Irishman in 2006, which was mostly written by two co-authors. English notes in this book that Nee's book was written "at a time when it seemed likely that Bulger would never resurface" (30).
  
• Johnny Martorano, a hitman for Bulger, also had a book, or rather he cooperated with Howie Carr to write Hitman: the Untold Story of John Martorano, Whitey Bulger's Enforcer and the Most Feared Gangster in the Underworld. English writes about Carr and Martorano's book: "Carr, well-known for his animus toward the Bulgers, both Whitey and Billy, had been handpicked by Martorano as his collaborator" (139).
  
• On a side note, Carr also wrote about Steve Flemmi, Rifleman: the Untold Story of Stevie Flemmi, Whitey Bulger's Partner.
• Bob Fitzpatrick, former FBI agent, who tried to challenge the FBI protecting Bulger, also wrote a book: Betrayal: Whitey Bulger and the FBI Agent Who Fought to Bring Him Down. English shows from the trial that, to put it mildly, the FBI was not interested in anything Fitzpatrick had to say, and they pretty much fucked him over despite the agent having a distinguished career. They even booted him out of the agency a year or so before he could collect his pension just to really rub it in.
  

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This book qualifies for the following 2020 Reading Challenges:

Booknote: Surrender, White People!

D.L. Hughley and Doug Moe, Surrender, White People!: Our Unconditional Terms For Peace. New York: William Morrow, 2020. ISBN: 9780062953704. 

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: humor, race relations
Format: e-book galley
Source: NetGalley

I recently finished D.L. Hughley's latest book. This is their plan to get some racial peace and reconciliation in the United States. Here is what Hughley means in a nutshell:

"Peace and reconciliation will only happen, I believe, when white people surrender their unjust privileges and their delusions of 'supremacy.' Look your history in the face, put aside all your visions of superiority, open up your institutions so they benefit everyone in this nation, and join the rest of us as equals. That's what I mean by surrender" (9). 

That's a seriously tall order, but Hughley perseveres and presents a peace treaty to show it can be done. In six articles of surrender, Hughley details the plan with a blend of serious, evidence support argument and humor. A strength of the book is in the evidence presented. The author looks to history and current events to illustrate his points. Much of that history is left out of mainstream (read here mainly white) history books. By the way, that also illustrates the need for blacks and whites to align the history books, which is Article II of the surrender terms. I will note that I have taken courses in African American history, at the graduate school level even. I thought I was relatively well read and informed. I found myself learning some new things and wondering why I was not taught those things in those courses. If nothing else, this book has encouraged me to go out, do a bit more research, and read some more. I hope this book does that for others as well.

Like his previous book, How Not To Get Shot (link to my review), this book is a relatively easy read. It is not some academic treatise on race or such. Language is straightforward and accessible, which is another strength of the book. Some people might complain other books on race are too abstract or have too much academic theory. They cannot use that excuse here. This is an accessible and easy to read text. It raises points of discussion that may not be easy to talk about but are necessary to discuss. To be honest, and I said this about his previous book, perhaps this is the kind of book to read in some campus book groups instead of yet another dry academic treatise that no one outside of academia really reads. Hughley succeeds in taking a complex and sensitive topic and making it clear and accessible for all readers. I know not many white people want to read on race, but if you get to hand them one book to read this may be it.

Overall, I think this is essential reading. I highly recommend it for libraries to include along other books on the topic. I do wish he offered a list of references or suggested further readings, but otherwise this is a very good book. Well worth reading.

5 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes:

The book is arranged as follows:

• Introduction: Surrender, White People!
• The Terms of Our Peace Treaty
• Article I: White People Shall Consider Reparations
• Article II: History Books Shall Be Aligned
• Article III: We Shall Endeavor to Understand Each Other
• Article IV: We Shall Deal with the White Supremacy Problem
• Article V: We Shall Be Un-oppressed
• Article VI: We are Part of America
• Conclusion'

When whites whine why is everything about race, you can start with this reply:

"Everything's about race, because in America, it's always been about race here. The places we could work and live, the places we could eat, the places we could go to school" (9). 

Why it was not enough to just free the slaves:

"You gave us the right not to be slaves anymore, but then you changed the vagrancy laws, the housing laws, and the voting laws to make it almost impossible for us to really be free. All these changes were just designed to keep us slaves. You reincarnated the incarceration" (11).

No, poor whites are not like the rich white, and they need to break out of that illusion:

"Poor white people are under the illusion that they're like the rich white people they see on TV, but they're not. With no jobs, no support system, they can't deal with the fact that they aren't getting what they were promised from the American Dream. They are supposed to be in charge, respected and revered. Instead, they're ignored and forgotten. That strain, that disconnect, is making them do drugs, commit suicide, and drink themselves to death" (64).

The above reminds me of this quote:

"Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as  temporarily embarrassed millionaires"  --Ronald Wright, A short history of progress.

Hughley's problem with write supremacy, aside from their racist fuckery:

"My white supremacy problem is it ain't truth in advertising. Stephen Miller? Steve Bannon? Mitch McConnell? Have you see these motherfuckers? You wanna continue the white race? Well, you've gotta be able to get laid. Damn, the white supremacists these days look like shit. Nobody looks at Bannon and thinks, That's a supreme specimen of humanity" (75).

Why whites recently and suddenly have a problem with America:

"The reason white people now have a problem with America is because it looks different than they thought it did. They are just now really getting to know America, and they don't like here. We've always known her" (120). 

Not just Blacks. Latinos, Asians, and other non-white and/or oppressed minorities have always known her.

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Book qualifies for these 2020 Reading Challenges:

#ArcApocalypse

Booknote: How Not To Get Shot

D.L. Hughley and Doug Moe, How Not To Get Shot: and Other Advice from White People. New York: William Morrow, 2018.  ISBN: 9780062698544.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: humor, race issues, African American, people of color, satire
Format: hardback
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County Public Library

Reading this book was a break from my moratorium on reading anything political/activist/social justice/etc., but I saw it was by D.L. Hughley, so I took a chance on it. Right away I will say you do not want to laugh, because this is a very serious matter, but you laugh anyways because it is funny as he tells it even if it is painful.

The author follows a simple premise: he will distill important information for Black (and other) people (of color). He describes this book as:

". . .a how-to guide for black people, full of advice from white people, translated by me, a black guy" (1). 

The author also makes it clear that he is inclusive. He tells us that this book can help other people of color too:

"And if you're Asian or Latino, let me be the first black man to give you some advice: buy this book now because once we're gone you'll be next" (1). 

True words. I've always wondered about the lack of unity among peoples of color. It is certainly a reason why White people can easily exploit the rest of us. Now, you may be wondering why a book like this is necessary. Well, sadly things like racism continue to persist. As the author explains:

"But here we are in the twenty-first century. We find ourselves at a unique point in history where black people shouldn't have to listen to white people, and yet white people still have lots of advice to give" (9). 

So we are fortunate to have the author distill and translate what White people so desperately want Black and people of color to know in order to have peace and order.

The book is arranged in five parts. Each part has short chapters with advice on important topics such as:

• The Real Way To Not Get Shot by Police
• How to Dress Less Threatening
• What Kind of Music Should You Listen To?
• What Kind of Black People Do White People Like?
• How to Make White Food

In addition, the author adds small tidbits such as "wise words," "tips," and "did you know?" In these and more, Hughley presents stories, anecdotes, bits of humor, and real facts and information. What he does is "trying to have a little comedy with tragedy" (94).

As I mentioned, I often did not want to laugh, but I did anyhow. Hughley takes the very serious issues of racism in the United States, and in ridiculing them, adding some sarcasm and hyperbole, gets you to laugh even as you are outraged. The book may be humor and satire, but it is seriously grounded in real facts and solid information.

This is a book that everyone should read. For White people, this would be a real look in the mirror, but sadly I know most White people will ignore this book. There is the sad part: those who need to read this the most will likely not do so. For the rest of us, Hughley entertains and educates at the same time. Decent folks may get outraged, but they can also get some laughs to ease the pain.

Overall, this is a great book, and I highly recommend it. I wish I did not need to say it, but it is a necessary book. On a side note, I'd say this book could be suitable for our campus Dean's Reading Group, but they always stick to serious, academic tomes. A pity. Hughley's book could go alongside books like White Trash (link to my review) and others that deal with topics like racism and privilege.

5 out of 5 stars.

Booknote: The Wilderness of Ruin

Roseanne Montillo, The Wilderness of Ruin: a Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer. New York: William Morrow, 2015.  ISBN: 978-0-06-227347-5.

Genre: nonfiction
Subgenre: history, true crime, serial killers
Format: hardcover
Source: Berea branch of the Madison County (KY) Public Library

The book is mainly the story of the youngest serial killer in the United States at the time: Jesse Pomeroy. Jesse, at 12 years old, was already torturing boys younger than him. He was eventually caught and sent to reform school. Upon release, he went killing. He was eventually captured and given life in prison. At the time, he was dubbed America's youngest serial killer, and much of the United States did not know what to make of him. Terms like "psychopath" did not exist yet. Men like Oliver Wendell Holmes and Herman Melville tried to figure Pomeroy out.

Pomeroy's tale happens in late 19th century Boston. In 1872, the Great Boston Fire happened. It was also the time of the Gilded Age. Writers like Melville were in their prime. A lot was going on, and the author tries to capture as much of it as possible. The author does go in depth with other tales, which was an issue for many readers who found the digressions excessive. I will say that in some instances I agree with that assessment. The author's look at Melville's life was quite lengthy and for a moment you might forget that Pomeroy was the main character and not Melville. I found the additional historical material interesting, but readers' patience may vary.

Overall, the book is really a history of Boston in the late part of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. In the end, I really liked it, and I do recommend it.

4 out of 5 stars.

* * * * * 

Additional reading notes:

As today where video games often get blamed for youth violence, dime novels were a reason given for the violence at the time.  Jesse Pomeroy was a big reader of dime novels. Dime novels, which sold by the thousands per issue irked "serious" writers like Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville, both getting outsold by dime novelists. Dime novels were described thus in this book:

"The novels Jesse read, commonly referred to as dime novels, didn't have much to offer in terms of a plot or a narrative thread. Instead they were heavy with sex and bloodshed, abounding with characters who were always a step ahead of the law and who indulged in a lot of sex with prostitutes, who invariably possessed a heart of gold. They fought duels in the heat of high noon, butchered dozens of  Indians, and scalped a few heads for trophies. The savagery had been imposed by society, the novels implied, and had not been sought for the mere fun of it. They fought injustices, whether real or imagined, and did so to save their honor and their family. But always, they got away with their crimes" (44). 

The librarian in me found the segment looking at dime novels, the publishing, and the critics interesting. It was not unlike puritan moralists of today whining about two gay penguins or a video game. Some things never change.

The author looks at debates about insanity and moral deficiency at the time, going over some of the important thinkers and works of the time. From phrenology to brain fever, such theories were applied in attempting to explain Jesse Pomeroy. They mostly fell short. The press at the time did little helpful, adding flames to the sensationalist tale and even manufacturing parts of the story to sell newspapers:

"Before the trial, and also during it, newspapers in Boston and New York-- as well as many across the country-- were not entirely objective in their reporting about Pomeroy's doings. . . The doctors who had talked to Jesse before the trial were not given gag orders by the court, and several of them, eager for publicity, spoke to the papers. As expected, their words were twisted and reshaped with each retelling, further adding to Jesse's infamy" (156).

The book does have extensive notes for each chapter and a long bibliography for those who wish to learn more.