Going Postal: Rage, Murder, and Rebellion from Reagan's Workplaces to Clinton's Columbine and Beyond in Obsessed with True Crime

Apr 03, 2013 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

I gave this book 4 stars but I am not sure many would agree with me. Going into this book I took it as being about rampage killings, which in a big sense it was. However, the author tended to ramble a lot on other subjects that in his mind reverted back to the core of why work place and schoolyard shootings happen. He made very good points in many areas but he tended to go on and on making you wonder if you were reading a book about Slavery, The Revolution, Reaganomics..... Had the subjects that I gave this book 4 stars but I am not sure many would agree with me. Going into this book I took it as being about rampage killings, which in a big sense it was. However, the author tended to ramble a lot on other subjects that in his mind reverted back to the core of why work place and schoolyard shootings happen. He made very good points in many areas but he tended to go on and on making you wonder if you were reading a book about Slavery, The Revolution, Reaganomics..... Had the subjects that he touched not been interesting to me I think I would have likely stopped reading the books.

With that said... I did agree on some of the points that he made such as how we all have a slavery mentality. I also agree on points that he made about how at the time of slavery most did not see it as something wrong, but looking back as a society most agree that it was wrong and do not understand how people lived in a society as such. He makes that analogy, in that he believes that decades from now people will look back on the way companies treat their employees, as well as how society in general acts and it will also be looked at as absurd.

While I could not necessarily disagree with some points he made about the Reagan era and the things that have occurred since his Presidency, I do believe that he puts all the blame there and cannot fully agree. At the very end of the book, he points out that Reagan had just passed away and he discussed some issues that I felt he should have mentioned within the book, pertaining to Reagan's attitude and somethings he said, that would have possibly made me understand where he was coming from a little more easily. However, those comments came too. Within the book everything seemed to always come back to Reagan. He does talk about this was the beginning of the 1% of wealthy people, and discusses the issues of how CEO's of companies began receiving the large surpluses.

I will say, if you are Pro-Republican, this is not likely a book for you to read. Ames, without saying so, makes it very clear that he is of the Democratic persuasion. On the other hand you are also welcome to read it and then search the issues he discussed if you feel uneasy and see if he made his points well and is truthful. However, most American's feel one way or another and little will change their attitude. If you do not believe Reaganomics hurt this country there is little that can be done to change your mind. However, if you believe it was the complete and utter downfall of this country then again, there's likely anything to change your mind. It is those who live in the middle that may have a chance of understanding and coming to their own conclusions.

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