The Page Turner: Detroit, An American Autopsy

Am I ever excited to discuss this book! I know I've said this before, but

Martin ruined reading for me. Since reading the Song of Ice and Fire series

I have found most novels to be unimaginative, uninteresting, and bland. Lately,

I've found myself drawn towards real life stories, for as Mark Twain points

out: "Life is stranger than fiction, but it is because fiction is obliged to

stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."  Me reading this book was almost

inevitable - Paul has a certain affinity for Detroit. His love for the city began

as a child when he would don the Red Wings jersey and cheer for a team

miles from his own home. He recently took a trip to Detroit to see a game

in the Joe Louis Arena before they tear it down. So I've been listening to

the plight of Detroiters (from someone who sincerely believes that Detroit is

a victim) for years. I've also been seriously interested in the world in which

we now live in, a world of financial servitude. This book highlights the affects

of this, for when we live in an age of debt there will be problems. But I write

all this with compassion and love for humanity. If you're like me and you are a

child of knowledge, and want a bit of grit with your truth, then this book if for you!

Reasons to Read Detroit

1. If you're planning a trip to Detroit, this book will give you the

ins and outs of the city. For example, apparently it's not the

best idea to get gas on Gratiot Avenue. 

2. I was not aware that Detroit has such a multi-faceted

entertainment industry. The city offers plenty of things to do,

such as setting vacant houses on fire, urban adventuring,

and murder watching. Bored this weekend? Pack the kids

into that minivan and go watch a planned murder unfold. I

was astounded by all the crime that Detroit witnesses in

a year. In comparison, the city in which I live, Ottawa,

has around 200,000 more people than Detroit, yet in

2013 there were only 9 murders in Ottawa while in

Detroit the numbers were in the 300's. But even my

own city is experiencing an increase in crime, in 2012

we had seven murders. People, beware. I can't imagine

living in a city that murder is a common occurrence. I

even lived in a semi "bad" area of the city when I was in

university (I've witnessed a man beating his wife.  A coke

head tried to break into my friend's house next door via

the balcony because he had mistakenly thought it was his

drug dealer's house, which was the next unit over. And

our building was the target of arson). But that's just baby

talk in comparison to the daily events unfolding in Detroit.

3. If you're a follower of truth, this book is for you. I'm not

sure how much more honest LeDuff could be. Although,

my doubts about the "truthfulness" of our media, including

newspapers, is unwavering. As LeDuff puts it: "I love being a

newsman and I believe in the words carved in the sandstone

parapet of the News building : Troubler of the Public

Conscience. But that ideal had become as ossified as the

statue of Benjamin Franklin up there. From New York to

Los Angeles, American newspapers were yellow and stale

before they even came off the press. Dog-beaten by a dwindling

readership, financial losses and partisan attacks, editors had

stripped them of their personality in an attempt to offend no one.

And so there was no more reason to read them. Safety before

Truth. Grammar over Guts. Winners before Losers." 

4.  Despite all the crime, corruption, and evil that exists, not only in

Detroit but everywhere in the world, this book will reinforce the

idea that good does exist. Although, the path of good is not always

the easiest to walk. "When a well-packaged web of lies has been

sold gradually to the masses over generations, the truth will

seem utterly preposterous and its speaker a raving lunatic."

Dresden James

5. Journalists produce great books. This may not be the rule, but the

ones that I've read are wonderful to read. It must be the journalism

background and the use of all their attention-grabbing devices that

make these books captivating page-turners. Another good read to

check out is The Ghost Map by Steven Johnson.

6. (As they say) History often repeats itself. The story of a town or city

booming, gaining wealth, putting itself on the map as an important place,

and then the eventful downfall of that city or town. This usually happens after

the area has been depleted of its natural resources and wealth. New areas

with copious amounts of possible-riches must be sought. People move. 

The once never quiet city has now become a ghost town. Do we hope

that Mother Nature will be able to undue all the damage we have caused or

do we believe the world is large enough for all of our excessive desires?

On a positive note: the beaver, who had not been seen in the Detroit area

for a century, has been spotted once again.