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UnderratedReads is devoted to discovering underrated books and under-represented authors. We highlight hidden gems from around the world–honest reviews only, never pay-to-play.
Category Archives: Politics and Social Justice
Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America – Eugene Robinson
(Reviewed by JD Jung) With the teaching of Black History being eliminated in many school districts, journalist Eugene Robinson is demonstrating its relevance and importance in his new book, Freedom Lost, Freedom Won: A Personal History of America. Through deep … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, History, Reviewers' Top Picks, Social Justice
Tagged black history, Jim Crow, memoirs, racism
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After the Last Border: Two Families and the Story of Refuge in America – Jessica Goudeau
(reviewed by Ann Onymous ) The subtitle of the book refers to “Refuge in America” but is there REFUGE to be found? They are REFUGEES but they are not experiencing the “condition of being safe or sheltered from pursuit, danger, … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Non-fiction, Reviewers' Top Picks, World Issues
Tagged immigration, refugees
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Great Again – Bill Day
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Ex-Marine Jack O’Mally is divorced and estranged from his adult daughter. He just can’t accept that she is married to a black musician and living in California. Jack is captain of his New Jersey neighborhood watch, … Continue reading
Posted in Immigration, Political fiction, World Issues
Tagged El Salvador, immigrants, racism, undocumented, Xenophobia
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America’s Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State – Randall Balmer
(Reviewed by JD Jung) For years Americans have taken for granted the most cherished and essential constitutional principles, one being the separation of Church and State. Historian and ordained minister Randall Balmer presents a timely, thoughtful, and deeply researched examination … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged American History, Christian Nationalism, Religion
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A Friend of Dorothy’s – Richard Willett
(Reviewed by John Heilman) A Friend of Dorothy’s manages to capture a young gay man’s search for belonging while simultaneously describing another young man’s decline during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The book is a powerful reminder of … Continue reading
Posted in Historical Fiction, World Issues
Tagged AIDS, death, denial, Illness, LGBTQ
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An important UnderratedRead Revisited: My (Underground) American Dream – Julissa Arce
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “In less than two weeks there was more than a good chance my secret would finally be exposed—the secret that could ruin my life, that could send me to jail, that could end my career before … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Immigration, World Issues
Tagged DACA, Dream act, illegal immigration, immigration, Mexico
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Yet Here I Am: Lessons from a Black Man’s Search for Home – Jonathan Capehart
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Everything we do in life is an audition for something. We just don’t know what for yet.” Journalist, commentator, and Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Jonathan Capehart relates his life experiences in his memoir, Yet Here I … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, Bios and Memoirs
Tagged gay, journalism, memoir, New York, race, truth
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The Illegals: Russia’s Most Audacious Spies and Their Century-Long Mission to Infiltrate the West: Shaun Walker
(Reviewed by Christopher J. Lynch) Plenty of people love to read crime novels. Others are fans of true crime. Some tastes tend toward the spy thriller genre. But what about a true spy story? The Illegals, by Journalist Shaun Walker, … Continue reading
Posted in History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice
Tagged cold war, Russia, Soviet Union, spy
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A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory -Dr. Jagadish Shukla
(Reviewed by JD Jung) Meteorologist and climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla was a climate-change skeptic for years. What led him to change his mind? He recalls this and his life in his autobiography, A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate … Continue reading
Posted in Bios and Memoirs, Non-fiction, World Issues
Tagged climat4e science, climate change, India
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The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine – Alexander Vindman
(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Without Ukraine, Russia is a country; with Ukraine, it’s an empire.” Without an independent Ukraine we will see an acceleration of authoritarianism. This war is a fight between authoritarianism and democracy. So how did we get … Continue reading
Posted in American Politics, History, Non-fiction, Politics and Social Justice, Reviewers' Top Picks
Tagged authoritarianism, democracy, Russia, Ukraine
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