The Monthly Bulletin: December 2023

a list of all the books reviewed in 2023

(and my super pithy take on them)

Griftopia: A Story of Bankers, Politicians, and the Most Audacious Power Grab in American History

seriously though, our country is getting swindled–nay, gutted–and we don’t even know it (until you read the book!)

The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

species are disappearing and it’s totally our fault (i am really not trying to depress you here, but–)

Medieval Bodies: Life and Death in the Middle Ages

yes, they really did do that with urine

The Origins of the Urban Crisis: Race and Inequality in Postwar Detroit

detroit is richer, cooler, and more complex than you know

The Afghanistan Papers: A Secret History of the War

would you be surprised if i told you that the government kept some secrets from us

The Great Starvation Experiment: The Heroic Men Who Starved So That Millions Could Live

conscientious-objector dinner was one piece of bread so that we could have democracy

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of Mass Media

it’s not fake news but just know where your media is coming from…

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

high rent is a legit problem

Race at the Top: Asian Americans and Whites in Pursuit of the American Dream in Suburban Schools

it’s like “mean girls” but parents

The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

i have a feeling that hermione would have a thing or two to say if she were alive back then

What the Eyes Don’t See – A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City

good pediatricians are the best, and hey actually this is another one where the government kept some secrets

(and here’s the 2022 end-of-year list)