Crack The Spine: A Semi-Regular Book Review - Detroit: An American Autopsy

I read a lot of books. So, why not share my opinions with the world on what I think you should read. Because, I'm generous that way.

First up, Detroit: An American Autopsy (click to buy from Amazon) by Charlie LeDuff. The book looks at the decline of Detroit, focusing on the lives of a number of citizens, police and firemen, government officials (mostly in the role of villains) and the author's family. It is pretty good. I like the author's style, very engaging and informative, reflecting his years in print media. I also found his stories of both corruption and courage to be fascinating. Finally, as a Detroit native who witnessed some of the events that led to the current state of the city, there was a personal angle that I have to acknowledge.

However, the book does have a few failings, the most glaring the failure to fully realize either the title ("an autopsy") or one of the premises, that Detroit's fate is potentially that of America. On the first point, "autopsy" to me implies a more systematic exploration of the trends and decisions that led to the present day. While the author does include some background on the city's history, more time is spent writing about family events and anecdotal tales of corruption and people trying their best to get by. A better title would have been "Detroit: A Viewing" or "Detroit: A Wake."

As for the second, more serious thematic failing, the author doesn't do a good job of synching up the problems in Detroit with those of the country. The most obvious one - the economic shifts of the last 40 years and the decline in manufacturing employment - is touched on; but is also one that has been gone over so many times that it seems like rote repetition. The more provocative one - trying to tie the corruption in the city government to a larger lose of confidence in the America system - is not well-developed and, in fact, the author offers counter-indications of this. I'm thinking specifically of the funeral of a fireman, in which the Detroit firemen show up in their shabby gear and the men from surrounding suburbs and other cities show up in new gear. This would seem to indicate "the system" is working elsewhere, just not Detroit. I think the case could be made that Detroit is a "canary in the coal mine" for America; I just don't think the author makes it.

Even with those criticisms, I still enjoyed the book...if one can actually be said to enjoy a book that is a record of the death rattle of a city.