Close

Login

Lost Password     Register

Close

Register

Lost Password     Login

Close

Lost Password

Login     Register

Book Review

Publisher's Note:

A riveting examination of a nation in crisis, from one of the finest political journalists of our generation American democracy is beset by a sense of crisis. Seismic shifts during a single generation have created a country of winners and losers, allowing unprecedented freedom while rending the social contract, driving the political system to the verge of breakdown, and setting citizens adrift to find new paths forward. In The Unwinding, George Packer, author of The Assassins’ Gate: America in Iraq, tells the story of the United States over the past three decades in an utterly original way, with his characteristically sharp eye for detail and gift for weaving together complex narratives. The Unwinding journeys through the lives of several Americans, including Dean Price, the son of tobacco farmers, who becomes an evangelist for a new economy in the rural South; Tammy Thomas, a factory worker in the Rust Belt trying to survive the collapse of her city; Jeff Connaughton, a Washington insider oscillating between political idealism and the lure of organized money; and Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley billionaire who questions the Internet’s significance and arrives at a radical vision of the future. Packer interweaves these intimate stories with biographical sketches of the era’s leading public figures, from Newt Gingrich to Jay-Z, and collages made from newspaper headlines, advertising slogans, and song lyrics that capture the flow of events and their undercurrents. The Unwinding portrays a superpower in danger of c…

This review may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase using these links, then Compass Book Ratings may earn a small commission.

The Unwinding: An Inner History of the New America

by George Packer

Reviewer: Rachel
Genre: Non-Fiction
Recommended Age: 21+

Overall Book Review:

The Unwinding offers readers an eye-opening view of America’s past thirty years. In the book, author George Packer shares stories of famous figures (Joe Biden, Newt Gingrich, and Jay-Z to name a few) and contrasts them with the lives of several average Americans. Packer refuses to sugarcoat facts and often includes every sad and devastating detail when discussing the Recession, collapse of the housing market, and state of Washington.  

It’s difficult to read The Unwinding without feeling its emotion. Packer writes with both passion and urgency as he outlines what he believes is causing America to spiral out of control. Despite its hefty size, The Unwinding is incredibly compelling and hard to put down. 

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  4 religious exclamations, 18 mild obscenities, 7 derogatory names, 21 scatological words, 18 anatomical terms, 3 offensive hand gestures and 55 f-word derivatives

Violence/Gore:  Several reports of violence involving suicide and beatings; multiple incidents of violence involving drive-by shootings, stabbings, fights, shootings and fights; a scene involving destruction of property; several non-detailed scenes of violent death; a man is murdered with mention of blood and gore. 

Sex/Nudity:  Several sexual references and numerous reported incidents of sexual activity; two mentions of pornography; a character is groped with few details given. 

Mature Subject Matter:

Racism, suicide, fraud, theft, homosexuality, infidelity, adultery, illegitimacy, abandonment, alcoholism, underage drinking, smoking, drug abuse, incest, sexual abuse, divorce, death of family member, death of friends, war, gangs, homelessness

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Drinking, smoking, using chewing tobacco and recreational drug use; several characters are “drug dealers”; several characters deal with alcoholism; underage drinking occurs.

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
10
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
5
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
3
10

Share This Post

About the Reviewer

Rachel
My mother was the one who sparked my love of books. Long before school instruction, she sat me down and taught me to read. My childhood was filled with trips to the library and bookmobile to find great books. My first loves were The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder and the Pippi Longstocking series by Astrid Lingren. Now as a mom and speech pathologist, I am constantly looking for good, clean books to use at home and in therapy. I enjoy reading many different genres, but my favorites are usually historical fiction. I married my best friend, the “boy next door”, and we have a beautiful little girl who we often find sprawled out on the floor, flipping through picture books. Together our family likes to swim, run and play tennis. Besides reading, I also love to bake, garden and travel.

Share Compass Book Ratings