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jackie_reads_314's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
5.0
Brutal and heartbreaking. Chariton's journalistic career following the water crisis takes care to humanize the victims and their families, highlighting all the grassroots activism, hopes and dreams; while, rightfully, blaming and citing evidence that shows how corruption and evil politicians will only care about the bottom line profit, time and time again. Though this will not fix all those hurt and lost due to this catastrophe, it should be a required read for all of us. It is the least we can do, listen and acknowledge the injustices done to those in the name of profit.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Genocide, and Classism
breacommelafromage's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
bookmarkedbyjaycie's review against another edition
The audiobook was so well done. It felt like one long podcast informing us how corrupt those with power can be (and continue to be). It’s terrifying to think of something this open and known continues to go on and no one has been able to stop it. It’s scary to think how these people in power continue to get away with poisoning the people they pledge to protect.. what does that mean for my local officials? Could they do the same knowing there won’t be any ramifications?
kaymisey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
The Flint Water Crisis is one of the biggest travesties by the US government in recent history. This book was very well researched, but the tone was (understandably) very passionate angry, loud, frustrated, and dismayed, and I was just as frustrated listening to it and appreciated everything I learned about the crisis. However, I personally prefer my non-fiction to have a more "neutral" tone and it took me out of it a few times.
clds86's review against another edition
emotional
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This book makes me wish I had stuck with law, so I could nail the asses of these government officials to the wall. Flint is still a hot mess. Flint's people are still sick. This is absolutely horrendous, and I pray there's a special circle of Hell for the people who created this epidemic of toxic water to start with.
yorickscuse's review against another edition
informative
sad
medium-paced
4.25
I like the underlying theme about not running government as a business; however, I think this could have been more seamlessly achieved. I would have appreciated a deeper analysis of why that theme was employed as well to more explicitly articulate the line of thinking aside from the obvious. The amount of names and organization of timeline presentation made it difficult to follow at times, though this would admittedly be a hard challenge to write a cohesive narrative on based on the varying but relevant storylines being juggled. I enjoyed the flow of the story in that it felt we were alongside the journalist—at times, it felt more like a rigorously structured podcast (like Blowback) unfolding than a book. This was insightful execution of an exciting topic that inspired me to read more on similar topics.
holomew151's review against another edition
4.0
I knew of what happened with Flint, but I didn’t know it was this bad. I really liked the personal stories, and it horrified me how politicians can dodge justice by claiming amnesia of the subject.
farmernate's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
beardedreader's review against another edition
4.0
As someone born in Flint and having spent my early years there, I was deeply invested in Jordan Chariton’s We The Poisoned. At its best moments, this book reads like a gripping extension to Empire of Pain, drawing you in while unraveling a complex web of politics, regulations, and public health crises. Chariton intertwines the stories of over 100,000 residents exposed to toxic waters, vividly depicting the devastating impact of lead poisoning and Legionnaires disease.
Chariton helps piece together a timeline of events across multiple administrations, shedding light on why justice has yet to be served for those impacted. The book reveals the chilling negligence and corruption that allowed this disaster to unfold, with figures like former Governor Rick Snyder at the center of a troubling cover-up. Through the voices of activists and resilient community members, it highlights systemic failures that amplified the crisis.
However, I found Chariton's approach somewhat indelicate at times. He often paints the city and its residents (outside of activists) as one dimensional victims, focusing heavily on the toughest conditions without fully capturing the resilience and agency of the community. Additionally, he could be heavy-handed with rhetoric, especially late in the book. What felt intended as a call to action, came off to me as preachy. These were the key reasons I couldn’t give the book a full five stars.
Overall, We The Poisoned is a powerful call for accountability and awareness, providing essential context for the decisions that led to this public health disaster. For anyone looking to understand the human side of this tragedy, it’s still an eye-opening read, just with some caveats.
Narrators Pete Cross & Sophie Amoss did an amazing job and made this a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC of this book.
Chariton helps piece together a timeline of events across multiple administrations, shedding light on why justice has yet to be served for those impacted. The book reveals the chilling negligence and corruption that allowed this disaster to unfold, with figures like former Governor Rick Snyder at the center of a troubling cover-up. Through the voices of activists and resilient community members, it highlights systemic failures that amplified the crisis.
However, I found Chariton's approach somewhat indelicate at times. He often paints the city and its residents (outside of activists) as one dimensional victims, focusing heavily on the toughest conditions without fully capturing the resilience and agency of the community. Additionally, he could be heavy-handed with rhetoric, especially late in the book. What felt intended as a call to action, came off to me as preachy. These were the key reasons I couldn’t give the book a full five stars.
Overall, We The Poisoned is a powerful call for accountability and awareness, providing essential context for the decisions that led to this public health disaster. For anyone looking to understand the human side of this tragedy, it’s still an eye-opening read, just with some caveats.
Narrators Pete Cross & Sophie Amoss did an amazing job and made this a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC of this book.