Rick Klau reviewed Our Towns by James Fallows
Review of 'Our Towns' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Was excited about this book when I first heard of it. We have an entire industry invested in showing us how polarized we are – and it was pleasantly surprising to discover that when you visit the small towns, things are much more functional.
But the execution of the book left me wanting more than I got. The writing meandered – a reflection that this is a collection of stand-alone essays the Fallows' wrote for The Atlantic over the years. And through each of the vignettes, I was left wondering if there was some larger point, and often left wanting. In the end, it is good to hear that on the whole, the country really is doing OK, and that there are some lesser-known success stories that can serve as a model for others looking to emulate.
But on the whole it just didn't hang together for me.