A Renegade History of the United States Audiobook

" Couldn't even finish. Arguments didn't really make sense and it seemed the same point was being used over and over, just with different context. "

" If nothing else, this book makes you think about the role the fringes of society have played in bringing about social change. While I am not an advocate of deviant behavior, it is important to recognize that good, hard-working, church-going, civilly disobedient folks aren't the only ones who built America. If we do enough family research, we will find less-respectable people among our progenitors. According to Russell, many overworked whites idealized the lives of slaves, America's rebellious youth culture may have influenced the collapse of communism more than the CIA or arms race, Jews dominated American sports in the earlier half of the 20th Century before they sought out more "respectable" professions, and the Mafia had a role in promoting gay liberation. In any case, it's entertaining. "

" An entertaining, though occasionally outrageous and needlessly inflammatory, romp through U.S. history focusing on immigrants, shoppers, gangs, prostitutes, and degenerates. Certain segments of the book had me in stitches-the author's account of the Puritan view of dancing, for instance. "

" This is quite a challenging little book, and you kind of have to take for granted that Thaddeus Russell's heart is in the right place, because many of his very un-PC claims will really turn some people off, especially the one about slaves not working as hard as white puritans. He also apes conservative claims about the New Deal being inspired by fascism/naziism, and vice versa. However, it seems to be his point that that moral reformers wanted to make us less free and that resistence whether organized or spontaneous - especially arising from minorities - enriched the society and gave us freedoms we take for granted. I think people of any political persuasion will find things to disagree with or get ticked off about. And people will have justifiable quibbles, such as just how much say did high-toned moral reformers really have?; and did reformers within minority communities who presented idealized versions of their groups really buy into their own claims? Overall, I learned a lot and the book challenged me and it's a worthwhile read. "

" Author is an adequate recorder of information but falls short on analysis. He takes an interesting subject and makes it a dull read. I think he could have tried harder. "

" I wanted to love this book. Ultimately, though, I gave up on it. It was uneven, at best. Russell's haste to make a point about renegades made some sections read as (near) apologies for slavery, sex work, etc. I saw his point, but I couldn't really get past his style. "

" Finally uploaded this to my kindle & starting it tonight! "

" The one star review Joanna gave nails it. This book is the equivalent of a child sticking a tongue out and taunting, "am not!" Too many generalizations and too few facts corrode the few interesting tidbits. Overall, I felt this book could be renamed The Racist History of the United States. "

" I found this book pretty entertaining. It certainly gives credence to the idea that those who ask questions and think outside the box are those that create change. I really enjoyed the anecdotal stories. "

" A history of the contribution to American history by the underbelly of society, criminals, prostitutes etc. An enjoyable read in parts, especially those that covered the Mafia. Not really what I was looking for in a history book for a guy from the UK looking to flesh out his knowledge of the US. "

" Pretty eye-opening. "

" Parts were more interesting than others, but overall was good. A slower read than I was expecting. "

" Very eye opening... "

" Took lots of random listening sessions to get through it, but well worth it. Now seeing, understanding and realizing things that I hadn't before. "

" History with a twist, straight up, and intellectually inebriating. "

" Don't know if I agree with all of the historical analyses but the facts were super interesting "

" It was okay. Took a while to slog through it. Mistitled though, should have been a History of Renegades in the United States...but that would not have been as pithy A Renegade History... "

" Interesting and entertaining...Viewpoint notwithstanding, this is a good jumping-off point for classroom discussion. "

" It was okay. Took a while to slog through it. Mistitled though, should have been a History of Renegades in the United States...but that would not have been as pithy A Renegade History... "

" Interesting in that Russell brings additional social motives to America's historical context. Not sure that they are as strong of factors as he paints, but I did learn some new and interesting things. A fresh perspective. "

" A look at the impact of criminals, gangsters, prostitutes, gays (when still criminalized) and others on the margins of society on the history of the U.S. This feels like an only partially successful effort to imitate Howard Zinn, but it's an enjoyable read. "

" Parts were more interesting than others, but overall was good. A slower read than I was expecting. "