The Cruelty Is the Point: Why Trump's America Endures
Jun 2021 · Sold by One World
3.3star
12 reviews
Ebook
400
Pages
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About this ebook
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From an award-winning journalist at The Atlantic, these searing essays make a powerful case that “real hope lies not in a sunny nostalgia for American greatness but in seeing this history plain—in all of its brutality, unadorned by euphemism” (The New York Times).
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • “No writer better demonstrates how American dreams are so often sabotaged by American history. Adam Serwer is essential.”—Ta-Nehisi Coates
Featuring additional elements: essays on how the Supreme Court undermines justice, and a new epilogue that connects the post-reconstruction narrative with today’s political discourse
To many, our most shocking political crises appear unprecedented—un-American, even. But they are not, writes The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer in this prescient essay collection, which dissects the most devastating moments in recent memory to reveal deeply entrenched dynamics, patterns as old as the country itself. The January 6 insurrection, anti-immigrant sentiment, and American authoritarianism all have historic roots that explain their continued power with or without President Donald Trump—a fact borne out by what has happened since his departure from the White House.
Serwer argues that Trump is not the cause, he is a symptom. Serwer’s phrase “the cruelty is the point” became among the most-used descriptions of Trump’s era, but as this book demonstrates, it resonates across centuries. The essays here combine revelatory reporting, searing analysis, and a clarity that’s bracing. In this new, expanded version of his bestselling debut, Serwer elegantly dissects white supremacy’s profound influence on our political system, looking at the persistence of the Lost Cause, the past and present of police unions, the mythology of migration, and the many faces of anti-Semitism. In so doing, he offers abundant proof that our past is present and demonstrates the devastating costs of continuing to pretend it’s not. The Cruelty Is the Point dares us, the reader, to not look away.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY NPR • “No writer better demonstrates how American dreams are so often sabotaged by American history. Adam Serwer is essential.”—Ta-Nehisi Coates
Featuring additional elements: essays on how the Supreme Court undermines justice, and a new epilogue that connects the post-reconstruction narrative with today’s political discourse
To many, our most shocking political crises appear unprecedented—un-American, even. But they are not, writes The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer in this prescient essay collection, which dissects the most devastating moments in recent memory to reveal deeply entrenched dynamics, patterns as old as the country itself. The January 6 insurrection, anti-immigrant sentiment, and American authoritarianism all have historic roots that explain their continued power with or without President Donald Trump—a fact borne out by what has happened since his departure from the White House.
Serwer argues that Trump is not the cause, he is a symptom. Serwer’s phrase “the cruelty is the point” became among the most-used descriptions of Trump’s era, but as this book demonstrates, it resonates across centuries. The essays here combine revelatory reporting, searing analysis, and a clarity that’s bracing. In this new, expanded version of his bestselling debut, Serwer elegantly dissects white supremacy’s profound influence on our political system, looking at the persistence of the Lost Cause, the past and present of police unions, the mythology of migration, and the many faces of anti-Semitism. In so doing, he offers abundant proof that our past is present and demonstrates the devastating costs of continuing to pretend it’s not. The Cruelty Is the Point dares us, the reader, to not look away.
Ratings and reviews
3.3
12 reviews
IG Music
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June 29, 2021
I think you need to look outside and see that this country is multi racial/inclusive and a democracy. If it wasn't Biden wouldn't be president, we wouldn't be a home of every single culture, nation and person from this world. Name one country that is more inclusive then America. You can't, and you know why? Because America becomes more diversified every single day. We've outpaced the predictions of how diversified we'd be on every census. But what's the real problems you have? White nationalism isn't creating more risks to diversity then before. We've had a increase in hate crimes but that's a 4% increase on crimes committed against whites and a large increase against asians. Where crimes against blacks and hispanics stayed roughly the same. That doesn't sound like a rise of white nationalism. Hell even during Obama's turn the kkk would hold rallies outdoors in public. Nothing has gotten worse, only the fears people have. Which 90% of the time are just head cases,not of actual reasons.
6 people found this review helpful
Charles Johnson
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August 7, 2021
an excellent read and well researched! unfortunately facts no longer matter with the rise of trumpism. I strongly recommend this outstanding book. however followers of the twice impeached former president have shown that democracy and patriotism are extinct. truth is on life support and the Republican party has become the party of outlaws and disorder. if you doubt these facts, I challenge you to read this book from cover to cover. the author leaves no stone unturned!
1 person found this review helpful
deborah elliott
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July 2, 2021
Excellent book, informative and compassionate! It explores our painful past without trying to gloss over inequities that must be addressed in our culture. There won't be significant healing in our country without acknowledging the issues explored in this excellent book.
7 people found this review helpful
About the author
Adam Serwer has been a staff writer for the Ideas section of The Atlantic since 2016, focusing on contemporary politics, often viewed through the lens of history. He is the recipient of the 2015 Sigma Delta Chi award for commentary, the 2019 Salute to Excellence award for commentary from the National Association of Black Journalists, and the 2019 Hillman Prize for opinion journalism. He lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his family.
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