American Odyssey - A History of a Great City

by Robert E. Conot

Book by Conot, Robert E.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

800 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Robert Ernst Conot was an American journalist and historian. He is the author of a 1967 book on the Watts Riots (Rivers of Blood, Years of Darkness). The report caught the attention of the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which appointed him to edit the historical section of the commission's report. Conot is also known for a biography of Thomas Edison that was among the first works to take issue with the "Edison myth" (A Streak of Luck). He also wrote a comprehensive volume on the Nuremberg Trials, Justice at Nuremberg.

It was after his work on the Kerner Commission that Conot wrote American Odyssey: A Unique History of America Told Through the Life of a Great City (1974), a history of Detroit from its 1701 beginning until 1970, detailing the social and community struggles – problems and successes – of America's biggest boom town, until the begin of its fall.

Reviews

[Andrew]

While reading American Odyssey, I watched the (excellent) 2022 horror film Barbarian, which, as I read, kind of acted as a tuning fork for how the world views Detroit now -- a ruinous wasteland destroyed by deindustrialization and redlining, with whatever art collectives coming in to fill in the gaps barely making a mark (see also memories I have of driving around Detroit baked as fuck trying to finish the weed before crossing the border back in '08). Conot was writing in the early 1970s just as Detroit was becoming the murder capital of the world. It's a gorgeous goddamn history, the story of how what was essentially a medieval French village turned into the powerhouse of industrial capitalism, with a particular focus on the rise of Fordism. It's a classic no-solutions-only-problems history -- vicious and honest.

[Jim Stogdill · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are curious what it looked like the last time Paul Ryan's economic policies were implemented, this is a must read.

[Ibrahim Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine history of Detroit for people who don't really want to read academic history books, but the writing was much too rambly for me.

[63alfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

the definitive history of Detroit

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stellar. Tells the tale of 300 years of Detroit w/o being overly stuffy.

[MERM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite nonfiction book. Great history of Detroit while simultaneously intertwining personal histories of ordinary citizens.

[Ben]

Recommended by BELLE ISLE TO 8 MILE: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO DETROIT 2ND EDITION