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The Forgotten
The Forgotten: How the People of One Pennsylvania County Elected Donald Trump and Changed America | Ben Bradlee
3 posts | 2 read | 9 to read
The people of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania voted Democratic for decades, until Donald Trump flipped it in 2016. What happened? Named one of the "juiciest political books to come in 2018" by Entertainment Weekly. In The Forgotten, Ben Bradlee Jr. reports on how voters in Luzerne County, a pivotal county in a crucial swing state, came to feel like strangers in their own land - marginalized by flat or falling wages, rapid demographic change, and a liberal culture that mocks their faith and patriotism. Fundamentally rural and struggling with changing demographics and limited opportunity, Luzerne County can be seen as a microcosm of the nation. In The Forgotten, Trump voters speak for themselves, explaining how they felt others were 'cutting in line' and that the federal government was taking too much money from the employed and giving it to the idle. The loss of breadwinner status, and more importantly, the loss of dignity, primed them for a candidate like Donald Trump. The political facts of a divided America are stark, but the stories of the men, women and families in The Forgotten offer a kaleidoscopic and fascinating portrait of the complex on-the-ground political reality of America today.
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Librarybelle
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Bradlee interviews several Trump supporters in Luzurne County, PA, just to see why they voted for Trump. What unfolds is a collection of stories, told in their voice, that probably echo other sections of the country that face similar economic plight. Their fears. Their dreams. And, why they felt Trump would save them. Admittedly, this was hard for me to read...part of my family is from there, and I could hear echoes of their voices as I ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Librarybelle ...read this. I‘m not a political person - trust me, you don‘t want to get me started on my real thoughts about US politics - but, I wanted to better understand why a place I know well could be labeled as a lynchpin to Trump‘s election. I gasped so much my already irritated throat is weak. I was so angry at times I wanted to throw the book across the room. And yet, I‘m glad I read this. I like seeing the different sides. I can see why a few ⬇️⬇️⬇️ 5y
Librarybelle 2)...arguments for a pro side were highly popular. But, there were some statements that were so misinformed that I wanted to scream “fake news!” Obviously, a very long review means I‘m a little riled up with this, and it took me some time to compose this. I think Bradlee approaches this as unbiased as possible, letting the interviewees talk. If you don‘t mind going through various emotions, read this. It‘s good. 5y
Librarybelle I forgot to add that this is my “F” for #LitsyAtoZ , my PA entry for #ReadingUSA2019 , and #SomethingWithPolitics for #Nonfiction2019 . @BookishMarginalia @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 5y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa I live near there! I have to read this and I‘m sure it will frustrate me too, because I still have those frustrating conversations regularly! 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage I think we both need to read this one.... 5y
Librarybelle @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage You should definitely read it! It‘s hard to read, but I think it‘s a must read. 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa This has been on my radar. Let‘s add it to the list! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Do you do NetGalley? I requested it yesterday and they approved me. If you want to pick up the ARC ... 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage I haven‘t logged in there for awhile, let me see... 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Cool. I also recommended it to the Philly Free. So maybe if you also ask, they‘ll add it to the catalog! 5y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @BarbaraTheBibliophage I requested it from netgalley and I will do that, being in Pennsylvania you‘d think it would be popular in this area. 5y
minkyb I applaud you for reading it. I ‘m not sure I could but it is worth it to try and be well versed on the dark side! 5y
Librarybelle @minkyb 🤣 It did make me pretty angry... 5y
100 likes3 stack adds15 comments
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Librarybelle
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Guys - if you want to learn a little bit more about why the 2016 US presidential election happened the way it did, read this. I‘m about halfway through this, and I‘m mad and frustrated...though focusing on just one Pennsylvania county, I think this speaks well to other parts of the nation that suffer from a similar economic climate.

jazzigen95 I'm an hour and a half from there! The election was rough 😔 5y
8little_paws I don't know if I have the patience for this one! 5y
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Librarybelle
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My next read, which fulfills a bunch of challenges. Part of my family is from the county mentioned in this book, so, though I usually do not read current political books like this, I just had to see what Bradlee has to say...

kspenmoll Keep me posted. Reading The Fifth Risk 😱 about what has happened during his transition in major fed depts. 5y
Librarybelle @kspenmoll Will do! I‘m already gasping, and I just finished the introduction. Because I know the area well, what is being said doesn‘t surprise me completely, but it‘s still shocking. 😮 5y
Burghbookaddict I live in PA and have no idea where this county is. 5y
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Librarybelle @BurghBookAddict It‘s in the NorthEast corner of the state. South of Scranton. The big cities in the county are Wilkes Barre and Hazleton. A lot of coal mining took place in the region. 5y
Burghbookaddict @Librarybelle Oh okay, I know where Scranton and Wilkes Barre are. Thanks 😊 5y
MaleficentBookDragon I'm from Olyphant in Lackawana County, which is the county right above Luzerne. I hadn't heard of this book. I'll have to stack it. 5y
Librarybelle It‘s been good so far, @MaleficentBookDragon . I bet there are pockets of Lackawanna that would agree with Luzerne. 5y
MaleficentBookDragon @Librarybelle oh I know. My sister and her fiance are two of them.😒 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Anxious to see your review! 5y
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