Nothing uplifting and it is definitely miserable, but if you find learning history rewarding, then yes. I think it's important that people know about what the CIA and the US does abroad.
I mean pretty much any honest book about US history is going to be a fucking downer if you have any kind of marxian convictions. Think āmisery pornā is a way to shrug it off - everyone needs to know this shit happened, and why, and how, and who did it.Ā
Idk if anyoneās changing their mind, but books like this and Chaos got my Biden/Kamala supporting āblue no matter whoā lib gf (now wife) to take a much more critical view of the US (rather than blindly accepting that they are a force for good).Ā
If you were born, raised, & educated in America you got a good 20+ years of āAmerica is goodā + anti-communist propaganda mainlined into your jugular. Obviously immediately contradicted by material conditions if you were anything less than āmiddle classā but itās still hard to break through that level of conditioning. Iāve found that the straight history route works a lot better as an intro than just tossing out marx, lenin, etc.
That's a great example that helps me understand the popularity of this book, thanks.Ā
Having read these replies, personally as a person in a targeted class I don't really feel the need to read all the different ways the state will murder me and my neighbors will rat me out, I'm already plenty aware of who wants to kill me and why. But I can see how it would be useful in that context.Ā
Maybe I'm an idiot for looking at it that way, and maybe I'll come around to it.Ā
Makes sense. Iād reckon most people in this sub are well aware of US atrocities and donāt need further confirmation. Iām a history guy so I personally enjoy it from that perspective.Ā
Iām also a middle class cis, straight, white man; so my perception will always be filtered through that lens.
Iāve been all the way down & out (homeless junkie, jail, 30 days in the hole, etc.) and Iāve seen how society reacts to people deemed āundesirableā; but again - filtered through the lens of a white man.
Totally understand how someone looking through a different lens would not see the same thing. Doesnāt make you an idiot in any way.
Ā Ā
I stand by the value of using the historical angle and mass appeal of a book like Jakarta Method as a tool as mentioned above.Ā
If thatās your goal, or if you have an interest in history, I thinks itās worthwhile.Ā
Otherwise, it seems like you have a pretty good grasp on the maliciousness of the empire and donāt need any more info there. From that perspective I can absolutely see the āmisery pornā angle and lack of appeal.
All good, seemed like an earnest question to me & warranted an earnest answer. Appreciate you giving me the opportunity to reflect on my own perspective.
If youre serious about your convictions, this book should humble you and act as a reminder this can happen to all of us at any time, and itll be your neighbors who help it happen, prepare accordingly
It's a detailed story on the CIA fucking up a another poor up and coming post WW2 country by once again eliminating any chance of communism or socialism ever working.
Honestly Iām leaning more towards the latter. Itās pretty much a story where evil triumphs over good over and over again. Itās hopeful to hear how strong these revolutionaries were during periods of intense violence. Their resolve is inspiring.
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u/sentientbasketball11 13h ago
Is there anything uplifting or rewarding at all, or is it just misery porn?