Last year I was feeling a bit meh about the books on my shelves so I thought I'd give a book subscription service a shot to see if that could jumpstart my reading. The one that I chose is Coloring and Classics (this post isn't sponsored but I'd be thrilled if it was) which sends a hardcover bestseller (nonfiction in my case), a coloring book, and an activity book each month. [A/N: I haven't been disappointed with my choice so if you're in a reading slump maybe give it a try.] If you're wondering what kind of nonfiction books they send then wonder no more because today's book, The Poisoned City, came in my February box. Spoiler alert: It was BRILLIANT. Anna Clark gives readers an in-depth look at the water crisis in Flint, Michigan that resulted from a breakdown in infrastructure as well as many years of disinvestment from the rest of the state (one could argue the country). I appreciated how much history Clark gave on the creation of the town from a trading post to an industrial powerhouse (General Motors was a big deal there). She also explained how the infrastructure of pipelines across the country has severe flaws like being lead lined and poorly documented so that if they were to be replaced it would be nearly impossible to locate them. However, the biggest impediment to upgrades is the cost and time it would take to make these large-scale changes. Towns like Flint (which was already under emergency management due to debt) found themselves facing a public threat for which they seemingly had no recourse. Of course, the most infuriating and heartbreaking thing about Flint's case is that the townspeople were being thwarted at every turn by the very people that were tasked with their welfare and safety. When the water coming out of their taps was brown, oily, and smelly they complained. When people started to develop rashes and their hair started falling out they complained. But the government agencies tasked with monitoring environmental issues (in this case an absolute emergency) insisted that the water was safe for drinking, cooking, and bathing. When some of the residents had independent water tests conducted at their own expense they were pooh-poohed. This went on for over a year.
I cannot begin to express the outrage that I felt while reading this book. I had of course heard about the Flint Water Crisis but I wasn't fully aware of the duplicitousness of the local and state authorities or of the steady decline and disinvestment of the city. (And learning about water infrastructure is a lot more interesting than I'm probably making it sound. Trust me, it's fascinating.) Learning about how certain laws, statues, and ordinances have been finagled so that decisions that have far-reaching ramifications and consequences get made and justified...y'all it had me livid. But it serves as a powerful reminder that citizen scientists like the ones in Flint (who got almost no credit) are willing and perfectly able to advocate for their town. So this book serves as a warning and a testament to the strength of Flint's people. I'll never take my water for granted again. 10/10
What I'm currently reading: Amity and Prosperity by Eliza Griswold
**If you're interested in buying any of these books or any books really, you can click here. This will re-direct you to AbeBooks which is a site I use all of the time to find used books at an excellent price. A lot of the time I don't even pay for shipping! Full disclosure: I will receive a commission on all sales made through this link. You will not be charged anything additional for my commission. I wouldn't recommend a site that I didn't use and you are under no obligation to purchase anything. :-) **
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