Is it worth the time?

[Jackson'sArm]

I've picked this book up a couple dozen times and put it back down again, with a bad feeling. Does anyone sincerely recommend it?

 

[lakertaker]

Sure, it's an entertaining read and well-written.

 

[AndyHall]

I think it's fine so long as you recognize that he's calling out the more ridiculous things and people he encountered in his travels. Books about normal things and people are dull.

 

[John Winn]

I enjoyed most of it but for me it wasn't an "oh, wow" kind of a read by any means. It's not about genealogy nor is it pro-Confederate. Each chapter is a sort of diary of his travels to another place connecting with people who, at least seemingly, have some attachment to the Confederacy (or at least its trappings). Give it a shot.

 

[48th Miss.]

I had higher expectations I guess. No issues with the author at all.

 

[johan_steele]

I listened to it as a book on CD some time ago... I didn't find it memorable enough to remember much. For me it passed the time.

 

[Carronade]

I found it interesting.

 

[AndyHall]

I've heard anecdotally, at second- or third-hand, that the reenactor Rob Hodge, who features prominently in the book, deliberately went a little overboard just to mess with Horwitz's head. I really want to believe that's true.

 

[dlavin]

Take it for what it is. And it can be comical and a good read.

 

[civilken]

I would like this post better if it gave an explanation of the book and then I could even pick it up or not but at least I could make up my own mind..

 

[lakertaker]

I would like this post better if it gave an explanation of the book and then I could even pick it up or not but at least I could make up my own mind..

It explores how the Civil War is still very much alive in the hearts and minds of many folk... from reenacting to battlefield visits, opinions, ect. Sorry, but it's been awhile since I've read it. It's a fairly short read, so it's not something that you'd waste a whole summer on. I would guess most people on this forum could appreciate, at least, parts of it. I do recall being impressed by the author and considered reading additional books by him.

 

[KansasFreestater]

View attachment 136421
I've picked this book up a couple dozen times and put it back down again, with a bad feeling. Does anyone sincerely recommend it?

I loved it. Yes, Horwitz has a certain political bias (which I can't be explicit about without violating the No Modern Politics rule on the forum), but he's a very gifted writer, and I learned some things. There were parts that made me laugh out loud, parts that made me tear up, and parts that made me shake my head in disbelief and frustration. You will never forget some of the characters in it -- they are characters, all right, but every single one of them is real.

 

[bdtex]

I enjoyed it very much. I read it very early in 2015 and I believe it was the 4th book about the Civil War that I had ever read. As I was reading,I wrote down a few places I'd like to visit too. I need to find that list. Pretty sure I can check a few places off.

 

[bdtex]

I would like this post better if it gave an explanation of the book and then I could even pick it up or not but at least I could make up my own mind..

There are several threads about it in the Book & Movie Review Tent forum.

 

[amweiner]

I liked it as well. There are a few things to bear in mind: first, it's not a work of history, but a perspective on how we look at history. Second, this is close to 25 years old and a lot has changed. Overall, though, I still enjoy paging through it now and then and think some useful things can be drawn from it.

 

[spot778]

I enjoyed it a lot

It was recommended to me by the bookstore employee on Lookout Mountain TN. He mentioned it was pretty popular mainly owing to the cover photo.

We had a great chat and I ended up grabbing it.

 

[huskerblitz]

Agree with most here. Worth the read and it's a fairly quick read. I enjoyed it.

 

[Rank and File]

I enjoyed it. Shows that we're still fighting that **** war in some parts of the country.

 

[Patrick H]

Based on all this fine input, the answer is truly up to you. I hope you will come back to report whether it was worth the time to you. It was worth the time of a lot of our correspondents to respond to your query.

 

[kbear]

I would second what many have said even though it has been several years since I've read it. I remember it being different than what I expected. There are definitely chapters that will make you laugh and others that will make you cry. I would recommend reading it without expectations. You're bound to find something you enjoy in it. I may pick it up again myself.