| Title | : | Divine Magnetic Lands: A Journey in America |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0099469537 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780099469537 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 544 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 2009 |
He went out onto the American road, travelling over fifteen thousand miles through thirty-five states. He met academics, the homeless, war veterans, political activists, New Orleans rappers, billionaires, novelists and a Ku Klux Klansman. In every bar he stopped in, it seemed, there was a story of American life to be heard.
Divine Magnetic Lands: A Journey in America Reviews
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I did enjoy this book which I read while in Charleston, and it made me think about America differently to what I otherwise might have. Some really good sections on American health care and the legal framework that did challenge some preconceived ideas - big corporations despise lawyers who take on cases for the little man, which is why everyone knows the story about the woman who spilled hot coffee at McDs. If the corporates can't inspire fear, they'll go for loathing. We know about her because American insurance doesn't want many more claims totalling that amount!
When it comes to fear, Americans have all they need in the healthcare system. Basically, don't fall ill in the States.
His other big theme was obesity, which is linked to health and, again, to big business. He lifts plenty of stuff from "Fast Food Nation" for his polemics on this but he doesn't overdo anything. In a way, I felt O'Grady was born to be mild, and interestingly he doesn't write much about crime and drugs which was the thing I would say is different about America. Corporate crime, oh yes, but not much of the other stuff. Perhaps that's why I bought the next book, as a counterbalance. -
A geat book! Wonderful read. I used to think of the United States as only a bully and i thought of it only in terms of its reputation over the past few years. But this book has correctly put out that its strength lies not in its ability to intimidate but to inspire.
The seques and small interactions with people and their mini stories are what make this book thoroughly beautiful.
It just went with me everywhere till i could finish it. Kudos! -
A geat book! Wonderful read. I used to think of the United States as only a bully and i thought of it only in terms of its reputation over the past few years. But this book has correctly put out that its strength lies not in its ability to intimidate but to inspire.
The seques and small interactions with people and their mini stories are what make this book thoroughly beautiful.
It just went with me everywhere till i could finish it. Kudos! -
Probably the best travel book on America I've read all round. The author has the insights of a born and bred American combined with his experiences of living in Europe most of his adult life. It's full of well researched information on life in America in the early 21st century as well as pithy observations on people and places he encounters. I just wish it was twice as long.
