Detroit--An American Autopsy

Starred review from September 1, 2013

LeDuff (US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man) waxes on what he finds when he returns to his troubled hometown--Detroit--after 20 years away. Passionate and scathing, LeDuff's incisive, pithy brand of reportage--in which he takes any force killing "his" Detroit personally--is powerful and immensely enjoyable. He skewers the inept auto industry that built "America's way of life" only to abandon the city, mercilessly hounds the corrupt city hall and its officials, and explores unjust fatalities. All the while he champions rank-and-file city workers and paints compassionate portraits of longtime residents. With the same critical eye he uses on others, LeDuff entwines his personal life into the narrative, effectively breaking down any "us vs. them" posturing. Eric Martin's narration is exactly right, reflecting all of LeDuff's sincerity, outrage, and despair. VERDICT Though it has a finite shelf life, this masterly snapshot of a city in ruins translates superbly to the spoken word.--Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Middletown

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