This was an excellent book if a bit too anecdotal. Regardless, it will definitely get you looking at US history from a very different angle. The author challenges a great many of the traditional takes on things are varied as slavery, prostitution, the New Deal and the notion that US citizenship was not without some significant downsides.

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qaphsiel | 5 other reviews | Feb 20, 2023 |

A Renegade History of the United States by Thaddeus Russell

I'm inspired to go look up some of Russell's sources, as well as researching more of his subjects in depth. He makes minority history into something more nuanced than I'd expected, and I want to know more, especially about African-American history. Russell is white; I'd like to read some black history books written by African-Americans. Overall this book was very thought-provoking, and while I was left with more questions than answers, I greatly enjoyed it and want to learn more.

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SwitchKnitter | 5 other reviews | Dec 19, 2021 |

A renegade history of the United States by Thaddeus Russell

Really revealing exploration which creates many questions for the conventionally educated. 'We have met the enemy and it is us'. But read this after you have read 'The People's History of the United States' by Howard Zinn'. This book gives me hope for survival against our current right wing advocates, although, reaching back into our history demonstrates a stunning sameness to the past. It seems to me that so many negative comments show a fear to 'question authority'.

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Joelwb | 5 other reviews | Oct 16, 2016 |

Renegade History of the United States by Thaddeus Russell

Wonderful, eye-opening view of American history from the grassroots level. Russell takes a broad view of how the freedom-loving "renegades" challenged the straight-laced American society that took hold after the American Revolution and has stayed with us ever since, giving ground only slowly. Irish and Italians and Jews were absorbed, gangsters in the 1920s set the styles for the times and provided what society rejected - booze, jazz fans and flappers thumbed their noses at traditional styles which traced to the staid minuet and "respectable" styles. Russell's view is that the renegades of society kindled the freedom that we espouse which loosening the strangle-hold of ultra conservative society. Very illuminating.… (more)

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NickHowes | 5 other reviews | Jun 16, 2016 |

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