Post Grad Cliff Notes - Welp Here We Go!
August 17th - Strangers In Their Own Land
Hey friends --
Welcome to Post Grad Cliff Notes! Every Monday morning at 8:00 AM, I’ll email you a newsletter including a book review and a few articles detailing what’s going on in our world.
This newsletter will offer insights to our rapidly changing world. As I said in our about page, we are at a pivotal moment in our living history; our communities, beliefs, and world are shifting. During this moment, I’ve turned to books and articles to help me better understand what is going on.
I’d like to bring you into the fold, so I’ve created this weekly newsletter to share my thoughts and findings. Without further adieu...
Strangers In Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild (247 pgs without notes, 285 with notes)
Top Line:
Hoschchild outlines a 5 year sociological project she completed in Lake Charles, Louisiana, a Tea Party stronghold. Hoschchild spends time with members of the community to understand their community, culture, and choice in affiliating with the Tea Party.
Hoschild argues that there are communities outside of the eastern and western coast of the United States, where people feel marginalized by mainstream institutions and culture.
Hoschild finds that members of the Lake Charles community understand that the chemical and oil companies have ruined their environment and sometimes their community. Regardless, they still remain defenders of free market capitalism, because it’s not the companies fault their environment was destroyed rather it’s the government’s fault for not stepping in soon enough to protect them.
Hoschild outlines two concepts which play an important role in the book; “the empathy wall” and “the deep story”. I encourage you all to read more about these before you read the book, they are really important and have forced me to think about the way I discuss political and cultural topics with people I disagree with.
My Review:
I would definitely recommend this book, it’s worth checking out and you will enjoy it. Hoschild forces us to think hard about communities of Americans that sit outside of the usual political conversations. It’s easy to demonize people who hold conservative opinions opposite than you, and it’s easy to reject the premise of why people hold those beliefs. But Hoschild shares the stories of Americans that many of us -- through no fault of our own -- have forgotten about, and urge us to have tough discussions and rethink an America that works for all. Check this out if you have the chance!
Favorite Quote:
“We, on both sides, wrongly imagine that empathy with the other side brings an end to clear headed analysis when, in truth, it’s on the other side of that bridge that the most important analysis can begin.”
Something Extra….
Here are two articles I read this week, check them out if you have the chance:
We Were All We Had by Elham Khatami
A short essay I read this week about race, immigration, and a family’s journey towards becoming American citizens.
The Internet Has Split Our Sense of Self. Can the Page Reproduce That? by Rebecca Watson
An essay about the internet, growing up, and who we are online. It poses the question: are we the same person as we are on the internet?
Upcoming….
The Beauty In The Struggle - Ta-Nehisi Coates
Short-Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States - Leah Cardamore Stokes
Trade Wars Are Class Wars - Matthew C. Klein and Michael Pettis