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Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right: What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas
Texas may well be America's most controversial state. Evangelicals dominate the halls of power, millions of its people live in poverty, and its death row is the busiest in the country. Skeptical outsiders have found much to be offended by in the state's politics and attitude. And yet, according to journalist (and Texan) Erica Grieder, the United States has a great deal to learn from Texas.
In Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right , Grieder traces the political history of a state that was always larger than life. From its rowdy beginnings, Texas has combined a long-standing suspicion of government intrusion with a passion for business. Looking to the present, Greider assesses the unique mix of policies on issues like immigration, debt, taxes, regulation, and energy, which together have sparked a bonafide Texas Miracle of job growth. While acknowledging that it still has plenty of twenty-first-century problems to face, she finds in Texas a model of governance whose power has been drastically underestimated. Her book is a fascinating exploration of America's underrated powerhouse.
In Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right , Grieder traces the political history of a state that was always larger than life. From its rowdy beginnings, Texas has combined a long-standing suspicion of government intrusion with a passion for business. Looking to the present, Greider assesses the unique mix of policies on issues like immigration, debt, taxes, regulation, and energy, which together have sparked a bonafide Texas Miracle of job growth. While acknowledging that it still has plenty of twenty-first-century problems to face, she finds in Texas a model of governance whose power has been drastically underestimated. Her book is a fascinating exploration of America's underrated powerhouse.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published April 23, 2012
37 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
Erica Grieder
3 books5 followersErica Grieder is a senior editor at Texas Monthly, based in Austin, Texas. From 2007-2012 she was the southwest correspondent for The Economist. Her work has also appeared in the New York Times, the New York Sun, The Spectator, and More Intelligent Life. Her first book was published this April.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
October 31, 2016
I would recommend this book for two types of people: those who like Texas, and those who don't (people falling into neither category should instead consult a book on introductory logic).
If you like Texas, then you will enjoy this book for the rich descriptions of Texas' history, and the insights into its culture, politics, and ethos.
If you don't like Texas, then reading this book may help to disabuse you of some of the more common negative perceptions about Texas that are out there in America's collective consciousness. Grieder's book manages to achieve this task without the chauvinism that can sometimes accompany Texas boosterism.
If you like Texas, then you will enjoy this book for the rich descriptions of Texas' history, and the insights into its culture, politics, and ethos.
If you don't like Texas, then reading this book may help to disabuse you of some of the more common negative perceptions about Texas that are out there in America's collective consciousness. Grieder's book manages to achieve this task without the chauvinism that can sometimes accompany Texas boosterism.
January 19, 2014
I have lived in several states and spent most of two decades in three different regions of Texas, so I believe that I have a pretty good feel for what makes Texas unique. I moved there for the opportunities, and Texas did not disappoint! When I first arrived, I soon realized that my dreams needed to expand to fit my adopted state. I simply was not dreaming big enough. But it was not the geographical size of the state that demanded increased capacity. It was this vibe that I could feel, this belief that if I could dream it, I could do it! This is what Texas is all about. I expected to read this truth in detail, but the title of this book is misleading. When the author uses the word "right," she does not mean correct. She means as opposed to left, and it is obvious that this aspect of the Texas character bothers her a great deal. The cover of the book is red but she would like it to be blue, or at least purple. I am afraid that this would be the undoing of Texas. One reason Texas is so successful, as she points out, is that government remains small. Dreams that lead to businesses that lead to jobs--that is the foundation that undergirds Texas. It also doesn't hurt that everyone is miserably hot most of the time and basically feels a bit ornery! This challenging climate just seems to make Texans more determined and focused. But despite the heat and the crowds, you will never find a more welcoming group of people (just don't go by their freeway etiquette!). I found much of what Grieder wrote interesting enough, even though it was consistently biased toward her liberal viewpoint. I also went to J school, and I understand how that goes down. Perhaps she, too, will change her perspective on how and why Texas works when she has lived a few more years and/or lived in a few more places. After a dozen post-Texas years in a purple state, I am so thankful that I had the chance to experience Big, Hot, Cheap and Right. God bless Texas!
October 23, 2013
When I picked up a copy of "Big, Hot, Cheap, and Right: What America Can Learn from the Strange Genius of Texas", I held low expectations, expecting to hear about Texas from the perception of a person with a regional superiority complex and an ego in proportion to the size of Texas. Instead, what I found was just enough background history of the territory, Republic, and later State of Texas, told in a way which helped me understand what is sometimes described as the "independent" attitude of many Texans. (And in terms of an "independent" attitude of Texans, the author corrected the widespread belief that Governor Rick Perry espoused the idea of Texas seceding from the Union during the 2012 Presidential Primaries).
As a non-Texan, I had recently visited the Statehouse in Austin, and was reminded how infrequently the Texas legislatures meet. I thought that was strange at the time, and wondered how that came to pass. Erica Grieder's book explained a lot about the size and attitude of the Texas government, and the reasons behind it. I felt she did a good job explaining both the very good points of Texas (job growth, low taxes, etc.), and some of the less favorable sides of Texas (low wages, high numbers of medically uninsured). All in all, an interesting take on the state and the attitude of the population.
As a non-Texan, I had recently visited the Statehouse in Austin, and was reminded how infrequently the Texas legislatures meet. I thought that was strange at the time, and wondered how that came to pass. Erica Grieder's book explained a lot about the size and attitude of the Texas government, and the reasons behind it. I felt she did a good job explaining both the very good points of Texas (job growth, low taxes, etc.), and some of the less favorable sides of Texas (low wages, high numbers of medically uninsured). All in all, an interesting take on the state and the attitude of the population.
August 8, 2013
This is a more balanced response to Gail Collins' anti-Texas diatribe that came out last summer. Ms. Grieder gives more background and history which have lead to the current state which is Texas. As an ex-pat of Texas (I lived there 30 years), I miss so much about it. I am glad that a response to collins' book was printed. You have to be a resident of Texas or a fan of Texas to follow all the details, but I have enjoyed it.
November 11, 2023
The political history of Texas shapes its economic growth as Grieder discusses in her book. Beginning with the formations of the Austin Colony, Texas developed a mindset on how the government should be run. This influence is still felt today. I found the historical aspects of this book quite interesting, unfortunately the book is outdated. Published in 2013, current politics and economic developments are not discussed. This is a shame, for I would be interested in Grieder’s viewpoint on the status of Texas.
October 28, 2013
Interesting history of Texas, but too often strays into apologia or defensive posturing. Takes some strange and poorly reasoned/argued pot shots at detractors of present day Texas and/or conservatism. Worth it for the Texas history, but only because the book is pretty short, otherwise the poorly argued asides would have gotten tiresome.
August 27, 2013
An up-to-date look at Texas, with all its problems and possibilities. Includes a helpful summary of Texas history. Argues that in spite of Texas' idiosyncracies it is a successful state that others can learn from. The author is knowledgeable and readable. As one who grew up in Texas from age 12 to 26 and would like to live there again I found it fascinating.
October 14, 2013
A lot of political info in the last half of this, and it didn't seem to have direction, as the title suggests. Just "here's who is in office in Texas and here's what they're like." For the sake of this book's title, I felt like it was very critical of the state, its history, and its populace. The historical aspects were interesting, but ended rather quickly.
June 30, 2013
I'm glad I'm reading this book. It helps me better understand Texas, Texans and the state's history. It curbs my exasperation with the Texas building of wealth at the expense of the middle class and poor.
September 18, 2013
Interesting. A non-blistering explanation for what makes Texas work in it's own strange way.
April 7, 2019
I read this book on my front porch with a can of Lone Star in one hand and my Bible in the other. Of course, my Bible’s hollowed out because that’s where I keep my shootin’ iron.
I can confirm several things Greider writes about Texas. It is a state that is decidedly and proudly nonconformist. The death penalty and the 2nd amendment are almost as important to Texas’s psyche as high school football. And yes, we did take a hit during the Great Recession but it was nothing compared to the rest of the nation. The schools seem to have been improving but how good they are remains largely tied to socioeconomics. The healthcare system leaves much to be desired and there are indeed “too many mosquitoes.”
Greider’s book leaves me almost strangely proud for having spent my life in Texas. In fact, I have been thinking for some time that I need a tattoo that reflects my Texasness. I don’t want the Lone Star or the flag or the “come and take it” slogan. Maybe, “victory or death”, which is what Travis signed all of his letters from the Alamo with (sometimes followed with a “PS: please send help”). When I have visitors in they are all shocked to find out that 1.) the Alamo is smack in the middle of downtown San Antonio, B.) it’s as small as it is and 3.) there really isn’t a basement.
I also remember when Henry B. Gonzales punched that guy at Earl Abel’s.
Indeed, according to Greider herself, the book is a defense of Texas and the so-called Texas model of governance, which can be summed up in four words “low taxes, low service.” Apparently, the rest of the country is a bit skeptical regarding Texas’s ability to create jobs and maintain a strong economy. Texas has a pro-business stance. The jobs attracted people and the people created even more jobs.
The book is part history lesson. Texas is the only state to successfully pull off a revolution against a ruling power by itself. It’s one of only two states to exist as its own republic officially recognized by other countries. It went from its own revolution to republic to statehood to a second war with Mexico to secession to Civil War to reconstruction all in the space of about 40 years. When Texans set up their state constitution, they severely limited the powers of the state government. This partly explains why it’s so hard to raise taxes in Texas.
The book is also a study in the economics of the region. Apparently the Spanish gave up on Texas and set all of their cattle loose. These eventually became longhorns and somebody figured out that they could round up these wild cattle and sell them for money. Say what? Yes, that’s the simplified version of how ranching became the state’s cottage industry. At least until big oil rolled into town. . .
And yes, the book is part political study too. It details how Texas went from being staunchly democrat for nearly a century to being a petri dish for the Religious Right and the Tea Party. Even though Texas has been firmly red for the last 30 years, Texas politicians frequently talk like zealots but don’t tend to take much action. Isn’t that nearly all politicians?
I don’t agree with all of Greider’s assertions: I think people can and do vote against their own interests and often don’t understand that they have done so. I also think that it’s quite easy for marketing-types to dream up fear-based campaigns in an effort to manipulate people to vote against themselves. People are not as rational as economists like to think. Despite evolution, which is real like climate change and dinosaurs, we remain little better than animals. Why else would we have books on how to stop amygdala hijack? She claims that the religious right doesn’t have as much of a hold as the rest of the country thinks. I would like to see a bit more separation of church and state.
That’s not to say that I haven’t had a happy run in Texas, I definitely have. Texas is like that loveable drunk uncle, he’ll embarrass you sometimes but he’ll also be right there when you need some backup.
I can confirm several things Greider writes about Texas. It is a state that is decidedly and proudly nonconformist. The death penalty and the 2nd amendment are almost as important to Texas’s psyche as high school football. And yes, we did take a hit during the Great Recession but it was nothing compared to the rest of the nation. The schools seem to have been improving but how good they are remains largely tied to socioeconomics. The healthcare system leaves much to be desired and there are indeed “too many mosquitoes.”
Greider’s book leaves me almost strangely proud for having spent my life in Texas. In fact, I have been thinking for some time that I need a tattoo that reflects my Texasness. I don’t want the Lone Star or the flag or the “come and take it” slogan. Maybe, “victory or death”, which is what Travis signed all of his letters from the Alamo with (sometimes followed with a “PS: please send help”). When I have visitors in they are all shocked to find out that 1.) the Alamo is smack in the middle of downtown San Antonio, B.) it’s as small as it is and 3.) there really isn’t a basement.
I also remember when Henry B. Gonzales punched that guy at Earl Abel’s.
Indeed, according to Greider herself, the book is a defense of Texas and the so-called Texas model of governance, which can be summed up in four words “low taxes, low service.” Apparently, the rest of the country is a bit skeptical regarding Texas’s ability to create jobs and maintain a strong economy. Texas has a pro-business stance. The jobs attracted people and the people created even more jobs.
The book is part history lesson. Texas is the only state to successfully pull off a revolution against a ruling power by itself. It’s one of only two states to exist as its own republic officially recognized by other countries. It went from its own revolution to republic to statehood to a second war with Mexico to secession to Civil War to reconstruction all in the space of about 40 years. When Texans set up their state constitution, they severely limited the powers of the state government. This partly explains why it’s so hard to raise taxes in Texas.
The book is also a study in the economics of the region. Apparently the Spanish gave up on Texas and set all of their cattle loose. These eventually became longhorns and somebody figured out that they could round up these wild cattle and sell them for money. Say what? Yes, that’s the simplified version of how ranching became the state’s cottage industry. At least until big oil rolled into town. . .
And yes, the book is part political study too. It details how Texas went from being staunchly democrat for nearly a century to being a petri dish for the Religious Right and the Tea Party. Even though Texas has been firmly red for the last 30 years, Texas politicians frequently talk like zealots but don’t tend to take much action. Isn’t that nearly all politicians?
I don’t agree with all of Greider’s assertions: I think people can and do vote against their own interests and often don’t understand that they have done so. I also think that it’s quite easy for marketing-types to dream up fear-based campaigns in an effort to manipulate people to vote against themselves. People are not as rational as economists like to think. Despite evolution, which is real like climate change and dinosaurs, we remain little better than animals. Why else would we have books on how to stop amygdala hijack? She claims that the religious right doesn’t have as much of a hold as the rest of the country thinks. I would like to see a bit more separation of church and state.
That’s not to say that I haven’t had a happy run in Texas, I definitely have. Texas is like that loveable drunk uncle, he’ll embarrass you sometimes but he’ll also be right there when you need some backup.
April 23, 2021
As a native Texan, I enjoyed this book about Texas history and politics. While the history doesn't change, of course, some of the discussions of contemporary Texas politics naturally felt a bit dated as this book was published in 2012 and I was reading it in 2021. At this point, pre-2016 politics almost feels like another world--a distant, faded past ringed with a faint glow of innocence. The emphasis on 2012-era politics aside, though, this book is definitely worth the read (or listen, for the audiobook version, in my case) for anyone who is interested in how Texas came to be the great, singular, and sometimes contradictory state it is.
2021 Reading Challenge Category: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (audiobook.) True story: I had never listened to an audiobook before POPSUGAR used that as one of its reading challenge categories a few years back. Now I absolutely devour nonfiction audiobooks any chance I get.
2021 Reading Challenge Category: Your favorite prompt from a past POPSUGAR Reading Challenge (audiobook.) True story: I had never listened to an audiobook before POPSUGAR used that as one of its reading challenge categories a few years back. Now I absolutely devour nonfiction audiobooks any chance I get.
August 15, 2020
The title is completely misleading. This book is basically a left leaning description of Texas which apparently (according to the author) just haphazardly fell into a situation where the state is both economically strong and people are moving to in droves. She makes the argument that it is just a matter of time before it turns blue. Yawn... Here I thought it was going to be a serious research book on the economic and political nuances of Texas that might be applied to other state and local governments. Instead I got a wandering jibber-jabber of historical stories with the occasional insult concerning the stupidity of Republicans that are so prevalent from the Left. Save your time and pick another book - so many other great political books are available.
September 23, 2018
Grieder combines wry humor with a in-depth understanding of Texas and Texans to provide an interesting look at how the Lone Star State's history and development has created a state whose "strange genius" continues to draw tens of thousands of new residents each year. As a non-Texan with a Texan wife, this was a great primer on how some of the state's most distinctive (and controversial) structures came into being. Would definitely recommend.
September 24, 2020
This book provides a look into what makes Texans different from the mainstream media's narrative. Why do Texans vote Republican no matter their current standing? Why do Texans have the entrepreneurial drive that most other states lack nowadays? Read the book and you will figure it out. I don't wanna spoil it. Overall, this book is a good book for an introduction in the mindset and the history of Texans and Texas.
January 10, 2021
A bit disappointing. Grieder mentions that Texas is more moderate (policy-wise) than the coasts give it credit for--Grieder also mentions tort reform, but she never does a comparative analysis to prove Texas's successes or failures are due to these policies.
Grieder is long on anecdotes about leaders, and the lineage of governors sometimes reads like the bible's genealogy passages.
Grieder is long on anecdotes about leaders, and the lineage of governors sometimes reads like the bible's genealogy passages.
May 24, 2023
I really liked this objective look at what Texas does right and wrong. It was really fascinating and covered a lot of issues I had never heard about or thought differently about.
My only issue, and why it didn't get five stars, was because it's a decade old and I couldn't stop thinking about what Grieder thought about the last ten years.
I recommend this to anyone interested in politics!
My only issue, and why it didn't get five stars, was because it's a decade old and I couldn't stop thinking about what Grieder thought about the last ten years.
I recommend this to anyone interested in politics!
October 31, 2017
Informative and Entertaining
This was an easy read. It was well written, and offers criticism where it is due but still overall compliments the success and uniqueness of Texas. It is a great read for those who are curious about why Texas is so charming and ridiculous all at once.
This was an easy read. It was well written, and offers criticism where it is due but still overall compliments the success and uniqueness of Texas. It is a great read for those who are curious about why Texas is so charming and ridiculous all at once.
February 5, 2019
This was a first read about Texas for me. Griedwr sweeps through a lot of history and background in this book. Most interesting for me are the economics and politics of this state and how they interact with the rest of the US. Very enlightening!
July 5, 2020
Strikes a balance in between the tendency to either lionize or villianize the way Texas runs. Grieder's representation of how the small government structure affected (and was affected by) religious interests in the state was particularly compelling.
February 7, 2018
For a Texas transplant, this book offered great insights into why Texas is the way that it is and a window into what Texas could be. I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoy living here.
April 28, 2024
Interesting, but somewhat politically biased rather than just historical.
May 2, 2024
I only read it for college but it wasn't a horrible read
April 16, 2025
Made me miss Rick Perry?!
Read
August 26, 2025Didn't like it enough to get very far, though it's ironic because I do appreciate her point about Texas being too powerful to ignore. I only read 6%.
January 7, 2016
An interesting, provocative, but flawed analysis of Texas's governing philosophy and relationship with the rest of the United States.
The biggest pro of this book, for me, is that Grieder gives her state a lot of context and perspective. She seems to be especially targeting progressives inclined to demonize Texas because of its prominent right-wing politicians and various other political issues that impact the rest of the country. There's a lot in here about Texas history and governing philosophy that makes not just Texas but other frontier states founded around the same time (such as North Dakota, the state in which I currently reside) make a whole lot more sense to someone who was raised in a blue state. And I think it's admirable that her overall focus is on Texas and the rest of America trying to learn from each other instead of resorting to knee-jerk hyperbole, both liberal and conservative. I learned a lot from reading this book and got a much better perspective of the world as it really is, not just as people who spend their lives overreacting to trivial political issues want to pretend it is.
With that said, this book is far from perfect.
First of all, the title is misleading because it implies the same kind of Texan belligerence that liberals find so off-putting, when in fact Grieder mostly takes a fairly balanced and moderate tone throughout. There are a few spelling errors throughout, which annoys me for a work that someone is charging money for, and I felt like a lot of the chapters flowed together too superficially in that uniquely irksome way that happens when journalists try to write books. And the focus on mostly counteracting hyperventilating liberal critiques of Texas (which is very valid up to a point) may limit the audience of this book to people who are already familiar with such critiques.
However, the biggest issue I had with this book is that Grieder mostly takes a fairly balanced and moderate tone, but at times can't seem to stick to it. For example, her otherwise above-average use of citations and factual evidence seems to go out the window whenever she encounters an issue that she personally does not want to think about. Nowhere is this more apparent than when she continually dodges around the ramifications of the fact that the religious right has lately exerted control over Texas government to a much greater degree than she gives it credit for, from the textbook issue (which she dismisses outright but that multiple education experts within that field agree is a VERY big deal) to the fact that having a strong separation of church and state clause in the state constitution isn't worth much if it's only going to be selectively enforced (Texas Freedom Network, which Grieder mentions repeatedly when they're saying something she wants us to see, has an entire page on their website devoted to this very issue). Other issues that she mentions but refuses to cover in detail include the state's poor record on human services generally, and on law and order issues - especially capital punishment (which she dismisses as the work of one rogue DA) and punitive targeting of minors in public schools by law enforcement (which she totally ignores).
In addition to this problem in her coverage, Grieder also frequently compares Texas to California whenever she's discussing something Texas does better, which I thought was tacky given that she kind of seems to be rolling her eyes at Rick Perry for doing the same; a more balanced range of data comparing Texas to other large states would have been more effective, albeit less flattering given that Texas usually finds itself in the bottom third of such rankings (another unflattering phenomenon that Grieder acknowledges but does not explore).
Ultimately, this was an interesting read that gave me a lot of perspective, helped me understand a lot about why Texans are the way they are, and finally convinced me to donate my copy of What's the Matter With Kansas? to the library sale because it espouses a very jaundiced way of looking at the world. Grieder's faults as an author and inability to overcome certain selective biases keep this from being a truly outstanding work, but I would definitely recommend it as a library book if you're interested in the subject matter and are willing to tolerate its inconsistencies.
The biggest pro of this book, for me, is that Grieder gives her state a lot of context and perspective. She seems to be especially targeting progressives inclined to demonize Texas because of its prominent right-wing politicians and various other political issues that impact the rest of the country. There's a lot in here about Texas history and governing philosophy that makes not just Texas but other frontier states founded around the same time (such as North Dakota, the state in which I currently reside) make a whole lot more sense to someone who was raised in a blue state. And I think it's admirable that her overall focus is on Texas and the rest of America trying to learn from each other instead of resorting to knee-jerk hyperbole, both liberal and conservative. I learned a lot from reading this book and got a much better perspective of the world as it really is, not just as people who spend their lives overreacting to trivial political issues want to pretend it is.
With that said, this book is far from perfect.
First of all, the title is misleading because it implies the same kind of Texan belligerence that liberals find so off-putting, when in fact Grieder mostly takes a fairly balanced and moderate tone throughout. There are a few spelling errors throughout, which annoys me for a work that someone is charging money for, and I felt like a lot of the chapters flowed together too superficially in that uniquely irksome way that happens when journalists try to write books. And the focus on mostly counteracting hyperventilating liberal critiques of Texas (which is very valid up to a point) may limit the audience of this book to people who are already familiar with such critiques.
However, the biggest issue I had with this book is that Grieder mostly takes a fairly balanced and moderate tone, but at times can't seem to stick to it. For example, her otherwise above-average use of citations and factual evidence seems to go out the window whenever she encounters an issue that she personally does not want to think about. Nowhere is this more apparent than when she continually dodges around the ramifications of the fact that the religious right has lately exerted control over Texas government to a much greater degree than she gives it credit for, from the textbook issue (which she dismisses outright but that multiple education experts within that field agree is a VERY big deal) to the fact that having a strong separation of church and state clause in the state constitution isn't worth much if it's only going to be selectively enforced (Texas Freedom Network, which Grieder mentions repeatedly when they're saying something she wants us to see, has an entire page on their website devoted to this very issue). Other issues that she mentions but refuses to cover in detail include the state's poor record on human services generally, and on law and order issues - especially capital punishment (which she dismisses as the work of one rogue DA) and punitive targeting of minors in public schools by law enforcement (which she totally ignores).
In addition to this problem in her coverage, Grieder also frequently compares Texas to California whenever she's discussing something Texas does better, which I thought was tacky given that she kind of seems to be rolling her eyes at Rick Perry for doing the same; a more balanced range of data comparing Texas to other large states would have been more effective, albeit less flattering given that Texas usually finds itself in the bottom third of such rankings (another unflattering phenomenon that Grieder acknowledges but does not explore).
Ultimately, this was an interesting read that gave me a lot of perspective, helped me understand a lot about why Texans are the way they are, and finally convinced me to donate my copy of What's the Matter With Kansas? to the library sale because it espouses a very jaundiced way of looking at the world. Grieder's faults as an author and inability to overcome certain selective biases keep this from being a truly outstanding work, but I would definitely recommend it as a library book if you're interested in the subject matter and are willing to tolerate its inconsistencies.
October 9, 2019
I don’t know what to make of this book but I also don’t know what to make of Texas. Texas is both a good place to live but also a place with significant inequality, poverty, and lack of health insurance. The same is true of this book. It is both a great read on Texas, it history and it’s uniqueness. Also, it is often unorganized and jumps from topic to topic. It seems both to simultaneously say Texas does some really bad things but jumps quickly to brush over those things and jump to the good. It struggles to explain at times a state that’s difficult to explain. All that said, you should definitely read this to help you better understand Texas.
November 29, 2016
An entertaining and somewhat enlightening work on the political scene in Texas. Grieder, for the most part, seems to have left her biases out of the equation; but sometimes just barely. In the closing pages she shares, perhaps her wisest counsel, for the Ds and Rs in Texas by warning each that their respective chief problems in overcoming their opponents may be with themselves. Bottom line seems to be that those things about Texas that seem to work best are those which remain friendly to business, keep taxes low (even if correspondingly state services remain low), remain open to moderation in most elements of the political realm, and keep life orderly. For example, an interesting feature of the legal landscape is, that while the death penalty will remain strong in Texas for quite some time as the many people on death row have their cases move forward, far fewer will end up there after laws were amended to allow a reasonable expectation of actual "life without parole" - the death penalty seeming to have been the only means whereby truly evil beings were removed from society.
With Grieder's closing seeming so measured I had to go find here blog posts for "Texasmonthly" to see if I could divine what she thought of the recent election. She is outraged (perhaps rightly) about some recent Trump post. Her blog posts seemed to cease (vacation?) on November 8 when she said, somewhat comfortably, that it looked a safe bet that Hillary would get the nod. She seems clearly a Texan, and conservative, but may be hoping that Jill Stein's efforts will lead to a delegitimizing of a Trump administration. That said, her book may actually help people on both sides of the aisle to see what might be learned from Texas politics.
With Grieder's closing seeming so measured I had to go find here blog posts for "Texasmonthly" to see if I could divine what she thought of the recent election. She is outraged (perhaps rightly) about some recent Trump post. Her blog posts seemed to cease (vacation?) on November 8 when she said, somewhat comfortably, that it looked a safe bet that Hillary would get the nod. She seems clearly a Texan, and conservative, but may be hoping that Jill Stein's efforts will lead to a delegitimizing of a Trump administration. That said, her book may actually help people on both sides of the aisle to see what might be learned from Texas politics.
December 3, 2015
I really like Erica Grieder's writing, her perspective and so naturally I was eager to read this book, somewhat later than I wish I had gotten to it. Like her Texas Monthly pieces, her blog and even her Twitter feed, this is sharply written, incisive, well-researched and more balanced than a lot of books about Texas. Having said that, and while not disagreeing with some of her conclusions, Grieder's overall thrust is too dismissive of the downside of the current prevailing philosophy governing the state. Her basic argument, that Texans are satisfied enough with their lot to accept leadership that is way more conservative than the overall population, is little hard to swallow when one observes the misleading, even false way voters are engaged by politicians (and how small a percentage of the state's overall population those actual voters constitute).
There is a lot I could say about how voters have paper-thin knowledge of the issues, or about the rise of what appears, to me anyway, to be an extreme brand of conservatism that is only barely disguised effort to roll back most social progress of the last half of the twentieth century. But this isn't to argue every point I disagree with. I'm glad I read this, will probably go back to it as a reference, and I'll continue to follow Grieder's current observations on Texas politics. She's a serious person who has made a serious argument. I don't buy all of it, but i don't reject a lot of it, either., Definitely worth picking up. As I said at the beginning, Grieder is a very good, engaging writer. I look forward to the next book.
There is a lot I could say about how voters have paper-thin knowledge of the issues, or about the rise of what appears, to me anyway, to be an extreme brand of conservatism that is only barely disguised effort to roll back most social progress of the last half of the twentieth century. But this isn't to argue every point I disagree with. I'm glad I read this, will probably go back to it as a reference, and I'll continue to follow Grieder's current observations on Texas politics. She's a serious person who has made a serious argument. I don't buy all of it, but i don't reject a lot of it, either., Definitely worth picking up. As I said at the beginning, Grieder is a very good, engaging writer. I look forward to the next book.
November 17, 2013
I didn't have high expectations with this book, as I thought that any book about Texas was bound to be biased in one direction or another. However, Grieder writes in a refreshingly balanced manner, at times fawning over Texas and its low employment, and at other times, delivering a critical rebuke of Texas and its educational system. The book discusses the history of Texas, a story that Texans know well, analyzing how Texas made its way from the Alamo to slavery, from Spindletop to the JFK assassination. Grieder also discusses at length the future of Texas and how changing demographics will inevitably change the state. Much of the history written about in the book will be familiar to many Texans, if not many Americans, but Grieder's analysis is very good and is deserving of a read. Texas is, indeed, a grand mix of success and failure, of good and bad, but I think all can agree that there is no place like Texas. This characterization is accurately captured in Grieder's well-researched book.
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