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We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans
As the ongoing Flint water crisis marks its tenth anniversary, Chariton reveals shocking new evidence of the major government cover up that resulted in the poisoning of Flint’s citizens—and shatters what you think you know about what caused the water crisis.
From crooked Wall Street financial schemes to political payoffs, destruction of evidence, witness tampering, falsified water data, and threatened whistle blowers, We the Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans reveals, for the first time, the real story behind how the government poisoned a major American city—and how they are actively getting away with it.
As the cover up continues a decade later, innocent residents have been arrested, surveilled, threatened, and gaslit to feel like they are crazy. With more and more sick residents slowly dying every year, Flint’s lead levels again on the rise, and cancer rates surging across the city, it is time for the true, sinister story of the Flint water cover up to be told. Based on eight years of reporting, thousands of confidential documents from the criminal investigation, and the former Governor of Michigan’s own words under oath, Jordan Chariton takes readers on the road to crisis before the Flint River switch—when government officials blew through all stop signs and orchestrated a financial scheme that allowed a nearly bankrupt Flint to borrow $100 million dollars for a controversial new water system. As brown, smelly water flowed through Flint homes and residents grew sick, politicians intentionally and knowingly allowed Americans to drink poison for years as they prioritized their own political ambitions and survival. Just when you think the levels of callousness and disregard for the people can’t get any lower, Chariton digs even deeper to expose the stunning scope of corruption.
We the Poisoned is a cautionary tale about “take charge” leaders who champion privatization and economic development at the expense of the environment, public health, and vulnerable citizens. Perhaps even more important, with water and environmental contamination surging across the US, Chariton’s revelations provide a road map for how to fight back and prevent similar tragedies from happening to other communities.
From crooked Wall Street financial schemes to political payoffs, destruction of evidence, witness tampering, falsified water data, and threatened whistle blowers, We the Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans reveals, for the first time, the real story behind how the government poisoned a major American city—and how they are actively getting away with it.
As the cover up continues a decade later, innocent residents have been arrested, surveilled, threatened, and gaslit to feel like they are crazy. With more and more sick residents slowly dying every year, Flint’s lead levels again on the rise, and cancer rates surging across the city, it is time for the true, sinister story of the Flint water cover up to be told. Based on eight years of reporting, thousands of confidential documents from the criminal investigation, and the former Governor of Michigan’s own words under oath, Jordan Chariton takes readers on the road to crisis before the Flint River switch—when government officials blew through all stop signs and orchestrated a financial scheme that allowed a nearly bankrupt Flint to borrow $100 million dollars for a controversial new water system. As brown, smelly water flowed through Flint homes and residents grew sick, politicians intentionally and knowingly allowed Americans to drink poison for years as they prioritized their own political ambitions and survival. Just when you think the levels of callousness and disregard for the people can’t get any lower, Chariton digs even deeper to expose the stunning scope of corruption.
We the Poisoned is a cautionary tale about “take charge” leaders who champion privatization and economic development at the expense of the environment, public health, and vulnerable citizens. Perhaps even more important, with water and environmental contamination surging across the US, Chariton’s revelations provide a road map for how to fight back and prevent similar tragedies from happening to other communities.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published August 6, 2024
28 people are currently reading
468 people want to read
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October 7, 2024
Flint, Michigan declared a financial emergency in 2011 and made plans to switch from water purchased from Detroit to the contaminated Flint River as a way to save money. They did this despite a long history of industrial waste and other contamination being dumped into this river. They did this despite multiple people who knew better advising against it. They did this without having proper infrastructure to complete the change, including a water treatment facility that was updated and able to handle the capacity and updated piping not made from lead. In addition to heavy metal poisoning from lead and copper, the water was filled with other contaminates. Fecal matter, other chemicals, parasites, and bacteria were all present (AND ARE STILL PRESENT) in this water. An outbreak of Legionaries Disease was covered up and not reported for years, and there is no way to know exactly how many people died from this due to them not properly tracking and reporting the outbreak. People in the government worked harder to hide this issue and gaslight people into believing they were taking action than they ever did doing anything useful. They tried to tell people that the sicknesses, the cancer, the fatigue, the hair loss, the miscarriages, the learning disabilities, and the rashes were all in their heads and not a big deal and ABSOLUTELY not related to the perfectly clean water. General Motors refused to use the water in their operations due to the nasty water rusting and ruining their parts and machines, yet it was okay for people to drink. Come on. Please be aware that this issue is not resolved. Only a fraction of the lead pipes have been replaced. Pipes in homes have not been replaced. People are not getting medical treatment. People are not being supplied lead filters for their sinks. They have lifted the boil water advisory. People are still getting rashes from showing in this disgusting water. Testing has been done incorrectly to fake positive results. Water is not being supplied, and delivery of water to homebound individuals has stopped. This crisis is not over.
HERE ARE MY HOT TAKES FROM THE BOOK. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ THEM, SKIP TO THE NEXT HEADING FOR COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK.
Governor Rick Snyder is a scumbag of a top tier. People in his administration also fit that description. People in subsequent administrations also fit that description. The media who have failed to accurately report this ONGOING crisis by inaccurate reporting, killing stories, and ignoring coverage also fit that description. It is CRIMINAL that these people will not be held accountable for their blatant disregard for human life, and their need to line their pockets and have political power.
This, and other environmental issues, makes more recent administrations cutting EPA funding and power all the more disgusting. This country has a history of making industrial wastelands out of rivers and areas they operate in, and there absolutely should be safeguards in place to prevent this. Cutting programs and funding is exhibiting a blatant disregard for human life, which we have seen multiple times over the years. Nuclear testing sites, industrial contamination, etc. are ongoing issues that require ongoing attention.
People love to yap about how wonderful America is, but when the government is actively poisoning its own citizens, among all the other shenanigans, and refuses to implement necessary infrastructure upgrades...it is really difficult to accept this silly nationalistic idea that this is a superior country. While it has many wonderful qualities, places, and freedoms, it is severely lacking in education, healthcare, environmental protections, lack of racism, lack of sexism, equal rights, and proper infrastructure. People refuse to accept these things and then get upset when people do. Grow up.
The past two presidential administrations, Trump and Biden, have done nothing to help these people. I think Trump is a useless individual who is a bigger scum bucket than the Governor who caused this problem, but the Democratic response to this issue has been just as disgraceful. This is not the only ongoing contamination issue that people are facing, and it is a shame that no administration seems to be concerned enough about it to fix it. Blaming one political party or another is childish and will do nothing to fix the issue. This seems to be a continuous thing to sling mud about, while disregarding the actual problem at hand.
If anyone deserved free healthcare, it is the people of Flint who have been poisoned by their own governments. It is disgusting that they are not getting free healthcare for the horrific health issues that they are facing because of this. It is equally disgusting that proper tracking and reporting were not done to see the types of illnesses, how many, and what areas were most affected.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE BOOK:
The book was extremely interesting. I knew only a little bit about the Flint crisis from some little streaming service documentary I watched about the Flint water crisis and police force a while back. I, like many other Americans not living in Flint being poisoned, thought this issue was resolved. When you google it, it does say WAS a crisis in past tense, which is simply untrue. The author is an investigative journalist, and the interviews and relationships built with the people of Flint gives this book an even stronger level of humanity and hopelessness. This was one of the better books I have read this year. I strongly suggest looking into this issue more, because it is a WHOLE MESS.
HERE ARE MY HOT TAKES FROM THE BOOK. IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO READ THEM, SKIP TO THE NEXT HEADING FOR COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE BOOK.
Governor Rick Snyder is a scumbag of a top tier. People in his administration also fit that description. People in subsequent administrations also fit that description. The media who have failed to accurately report this ONGOING crisis by inaccurate reporting, killing stories, and ignoring coverage also fit that description. It is CRIMINAL that these people will not be held accountable for their blatant disregard for human life, and their need to line their pockets and have political power.
This, and other environmental issues, makes more recent administrations cutting EPA funding and power all the more disgusting. This country has a history of making industrial wastelands out of rivers and areas they operate in, and there absolutely should be safeguards in place to prevent this. Cutting programs and funding is exhibiting a blatant disregard for human life, which we have seen multiple times over the years. Nuclear testing sites, industrial contamination, etc. are ongoing issues that require ongoing attention.
People love to yap about how wonderful America is, but when the government is actively poisoning its own citizens, among all the other shenanigans, and refuses to implement necessary infrastructure upgrades...it is really difficult to accept this silly nationalistic idea that this is a superior country. While it has many wonderful qualities, places, and freedoms, it is severely lacking in education, healthcare, environmental protections, lack of racism, lack of sexism, equal rights, and proper infrastructure. People refuse to accept these things and then get upset when people do. Grow up.
The past two presidential administrations, Trump and Biden, have done nothing to help these people. I think Trump is a useless individual who is a bigger scum bucket than the Governor who caused this problem, but the Democratic response to this issue has been just as disgraceful. This is not the only ongoing contamination issue that people are facing, and it is a shame that no administration seems to be concerned enough about it to fix it. Blaming one political party or another is childish and will do nothing to fix the issue. This seems to be a continuous thing to sling mud about, while disregarding the actual problem at hand.
If anyone deserved free healthcare, it is the people of Flint who have been poisoned by their own governments. It is disgusting that they are not getting free healthcare for the horrific health issues that they are facing because of this. It is equally disgusting that proper tracking and reporting were not done to see the types of illnesses, how many, and what areas were most affected.
COMMENTS ABOUT THE BOOK:
The book was extremely interesting. I knew only a little bit about the Flint crisis from some little streaming service documentary I watched about the Flint water crisis and police force a while back. I, like many other Americans not living in Flint being poisoned, thought this issue was resolved. When you google it, it does say WAS a crisis in past tense, which is simply untrue. The author is an investigative journalist, and the interviews and relationships built with the people of Flint gives this book an even stronger level of humanity and hopelessness. This was one of the better books I have read this year. I strongly suggest looking into this issue more, because it is a WHOLE MESS.
September 19, 2024
✨ Title: We The Poisoned (ALC)
🖋️ Author: Jordan Chariton
🌟 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔍 Summary:
In “We the Poisoned,” investigative journalist Jordan Chariton uncovers the harrowing story of the Flint water crisis, a catastrophic event that exposed over 100,000 residents to toxic water. The book delves into the intricate web of government corruption and negligence that led to the crisis, revealing how state officials, including former Governor Rick Snyder, concealed the truth from the public. Chariton highlights the severe health impacts on the community, including lead poisoning and Legionnaires’ disease, and the economic and social fallout that ensued. Through the lens of local activists and resilient community members, the book underscores the systemic failures and environmental racism that exacerbated the crisis. “We the Poisoned” is a powerful call for accountability and justice, shedding light on one of the most significant public health disasters in recent American history.
📈 Key Insights:
1. Health Impact: The contaminated water led to severe health issues for Flint residents, including lead poisoning and Legionnaires’ disease. The book details the ongoing health crisis and its devastating effects on the community.
2. Environmental Racism: The book discusses how the crisis disproportionately affected low-income and minority communities, highlighting issues of environmental racism and inequality.
3. Community Resilience: Despite the adversity, the book highlights the resilience and solidarity of the Flint community, showcasing their efforts to seek justice and clean water.
💡 Personal Reflection:
I’ve only heard so much about the Flint water crisis, but I NEVER knew it was THIS BAD! To think that the government, the people who are supposed to PROTECT their people, is this corrupt is soul crushing. I don’t know how they slept at night knowing that their residence are fighting rare diseases and unfortunate events due to the quality of their water. They had many chances to make this right and never did. shame on them!
🌟 Recommendation:
If you live in America, this book NEEDS to be read! Not only does it gives you an insight on what’s going on in Flint, but it also provides insight on how the Government handles these situations and how these events occur over time. I’m so glad I read this book and will be recommending it from now on.
Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
🏷️
#BookReview #Nonfiction #BookLovers #ReadingCommunity #InstaBooks
🖋️ Author: Jordan Chariton
🌟 Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔍 Summary:
In “We the Poisoned,” investigative journalist Jordan Chariton uncovers the harrowing story of the Flint water crisis, a catastrophic event that exposed over 100,000 residents to toxic water. The book delves into the intricate web of government corruption and negligence that led to the crisis, revealing how state officials, including former Governor Rick Snyder, concealed the truth from the public. Chariton highlights the severe health impacts on the community, including lead poisoning and Legionnaires’ disease, and the economic and social fallout that ensued. Through the lens of local activists and resilient community members, the book underscores the systemic failures and environmental racism that exacerbated the crisis. “We the Poisoned” is a powerful call for accountability and justice, shedding light on one of the most significant public health disasters in recent American history.
📈 Key Insights:
1. Health Impact: The contaminated water led to severe health issues for Flint residents, including lead poisoning and Legionnaires’ disease. The book details the ongoing health crisis and its devastating effects on the community.
2. Environmental Racism: The book discusses how the crisis disproportionately affected low-income and minority communities, highlighting issues of environmental racism and inequality.
3. Community Resilience: Despite the adversity, the book highlights the resilience and solidarity of the Flint community, showcasing their efforts to seek justice and clean water.
💡 Personal Reflection:
I’ve only heard so much about the Flint water crisis, but I NEVER knew it was THIS BAD! To think that the government, the people who are supposed to PROTECT their people, is this corrupt is soul crushing. I don’t know how they slept at night knowing that their residence are fighting rare diseases and unfortunate events due to the quality of their water. They had many chances to make this right and never did. shame on them!
🌟 Recommendation:
If you live in America, this book NEEDS to be read! Not only does it gives you an insight on what’s going on in Flint, but it also provides insight on how the Government handles these situations and how these events occur over time. I’m so glad I read this book and will be recommending it from now on.
Thanks Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC!
🏷️
#BookReview #Nonfiction #BookLovers #ReadingCommunity #InstaBooks
September 30, 2024
The insane amount of corruption that lead to this water crisis and the on going cover up is mind blowing to me. The book itself was a bit of a bore.
September 22, 2024
As someone born in Flint and having spent my early years there, I was deeply invested in Jordan Chariton’s We The Poisoned. At its best moments, this book reads like a gripping extension to Empire of Pain, drawing you in while unraveling a complex web of politics, regulations, and public health crises. Chariton intertwines the stories of over 100,000 residents exposed to toxic waters, vividly depicting the devastating impact of lead poisoning and Legionnaires disease.
Chariton helps piece together a timeline of events across multiple administrations, shedding light on why justice has yet to be served for those impacted. The book reveals the chilling negligence and corruption that allowed this disaster to unfold, with figures like former Governor Rick Snyder at the center of a troubling cover-up. Through the voices of activists and resilient community members, it highlights systemic failures that amplified the crisis.
However, I found Chariton's approach somewhat indelicate at times. He often paints the city and its residents (outside of activists) as one dimensional victims, focusing heavily on the toughest conditions without fully capturing the resilience and agency of the community. Additionally, he could be heavy-handed with rhetoric, especially late in the book. What felt intended as a call to action, came off to me as preachy. These were the key reasons I couldn’t give the book a full five stars.
Overall, We The Poisoned is a powerful call for accountability and awareness, providing essential context for the decisions that led to this public health disaster. For anyone looking to understand the human side of this tragedy, it’s still an eye-opening read, just with some caveats.
Narrators Pete Cross & Sophie Amoss did an amazing job and made this a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC of this book.
Chariton helps piece together a timeline of events across multiple administrations, shedding light on why justice has yet to be served for those impacted. The book reveals the chilling negligence and corruption that allowed this disaster to unfold, with figures like former Governor Rick Snyder at the center of a troubling cover-up. Through the voices of activists and resilient community members, it highlights systemic failures that amplified the crisis.
However, I found Chariton's approach somewhat indelicate at times. He often paints the city and its residents (outside of activists) as one dimensional victims, focusing heavily on the toughest conditions without fully capturing the resilience and agency of the community. Additionally, he could be heavy-handed with rhetoric, especially late in the book. What felt intended as a call to action, came off to me as preachy. These were the key reasons I couldn’t give the book a full five stars.
Overall, We The Poisoned is a powerful call for accountability and awareness, providing essential context for the decisions that led to this public health disaster. For anyone looking to understand the human side of this tragedy, it’s still an eye-opening read, just with some caveats.
Narrators Pete Cross & Sophie Amoss did an amazing job and made this a pleasure to listen to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC of this book.
November 10, 2024
Overall, the author does a good job of exposing how infuriating the official misconduct was.
I was interested in this book in particular about the Flint Water Crisis because it focuses on the cover-up. Unfortunately, it keeps looping aroung in time with first-person anecdotes about the author's encounters with the victims and their horrible suffering. I just don't like this style. Especially for a cover-up story, the timeline is very important.
Unfortunately, this is just one more example of how we live in a culture of corruption and incompetence, and the proximity also makes me think of the book: Detroit: An American Autopsy
I was interested in this book in particular about the Flint Water Crisis because it focuses on the cover-up. Unfortunately, it keeps looping aroung in time with first-person anecdotes about the author's encounters with the victims and their horrible suffering. I just don't like this style. Especially for a cover-up story, the timeline is very important.
Unfortunately, this is just one more example of how we live in a culture of corruption and incompetence, and the proximity also makes me think of the book: Detroit: An American Autopsy
September 18, 2024
Incredibly important coverage and detail. Moving. Entirely frustrating series of events (and non-events). For me, the writing style can be honed, but I would definitely recommend.
December 14, 2024
Jordan Chariton's timely journalism shines in We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans, as he provides an unflinching exposé on the tragic circumstances that led up to, and continue to, damage an entire community of people in Flint, Michigan.
I had no idea the Flint water crisis has been ongoing for over one decade now. Apparently, just because we haven't been hearing as much about it doesn't mean it has been resolved. Greed and political asshattery continue to give this dire situation new life, much to everyone's dismay. Someone needed to remind us REAL PEOPLE and REAL LIVES are still on the line here, and Chariton stepped up with all the tea.
So what's happening? People in Flint discovered their water was being poisoned with lead and the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's disease, and many were getting sick, as in SICK sick. Their complaints fell on deaf ears, as the poisoning was actually being kept secret by a corrupt few who were telling them a new water source was required to keep their water prices low. (Not true -- the change was actually not-so-carefully orchestrated by bad actors in power). The politicians didn't care, and apparently still don't. People are still getting sick and dying.
This is not an easy read, but an important one. Just like Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe, about Love Canal, this book brings valuable lessons to us, and motivates us to give a sh*t and speak up about what the elite think they can get away with.
I had no idea the Flint water crisis has been ongoing for over one decade now. Apparently, just because we haven't been hearing as much about it doesn't mean it has been resolved. Greed and political asshattery continue to give this dire situation new life, much to everyone's dismay. Someone needed to remind us REAL PEOPLE and REAL LIVES are still on the line here, and Chariton stepped up with all the tea.
So what's happening? People in Flint discovered their water was being poisoned with lead and the bacteria that causes Legionnaire's disease, and many were getting sick, as in SICK sick. Their complaints fell on deaf ears, as the poisoning was actually being kept secret by a corrupt few who were telling them a new water source was required to keep their water prices low. (Not true -- the change was actually not-so-carefully orchestrated by bad actors in power). The politicians didn't care, and apparently still don't. People are still getting sick and dying.
This is not an easy read, but an important one. Just like Paradise Falls: The True Story of an Environmental Catastrophe, about Love Canal, this book brings valuable lessons to us, and motivates us to give a sh*t and speak up about what the elite think they can get away with.
August 20, 2024
Chariton is an excellent journalist who is telling an important story, and this book reflect years of on-the-ground reporting on a complex situation. The Flint water cover-up is confusing and bureaucratic, but he keeps it focused on what's important: the health of Flint residents. There is a lot of repetition of previously stated facts, which is helpful for remembering all the pieces but sometimes overdone. I also think Chariton's inexperience in writing book-length narratives really shows in certain places.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 23, 2024
This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Jordan Chariton, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley.
Flint, Michigan STILL does not have clean water, a decade after this whole mess was exposed. This crisis began under President Obama, continued unabated under the presidencies of both Trump & Biden. This will still be a crisis despite whomever wins in November 2024. Both political parties are equally responsible for this nightmare. The cost of this crisis in human lives is tremendous.
This was especially hard to read. The narrators, Pete Cross and Sophie Amoss, do a wonderful job conveying with the tones of their voices how serious and grave this situation was. I was born and raised in Detroit. As a result, the Flint water crisis is both next door and personal. I remember the horror I felt as this situation was exposed. I remember how shocked I was. This book let me know it was so much worse than I imagined.
I truly appreciate the author for calling out directly that this is a result of racism. Governor Snyder is a Republican and a racist. He set up a system in which his state government overrode the legally elected city and town officials with this program called 'Emergency Management'. He would appoint a manager who had the power to override the government elected officials. He did this in primarily Black areas, Detroit also had an 'Emergency Manager'. This is part of the Republican cheatbook, and they've set up similar anti-democratic systems all over the USA in Black Communities. These managers are unpopular with local citizens and usually racist or anti-Black themselves. These managers are corrupt and always make the situations significantly worse than the democratically elected officials.
Anyway, Snyder forced this change by using his cronies to take self-governance away from marginalized communities. This was done because Snyder illegally was profiting off of creating a new water treatment plant because cities were beefing with the Detroit Water Treatment facility. They knew the water was toxic, and the governor specificity worked to cover up the health crisis.
The failure for this isn't just the state and federal government. Journalists and reporters failed us as well. With the exception of this author, reporters stopped caring about this crisis. Most Americans think this issue was resolved. Instead of focusing on this important issue, the trump circus started, and these poor folks suffered. Honestly, our press is so partisan and complicit it's in effect, like we don't have actual journalists anymore. The level of complicity the news has with this crisis is almost on the same level as the government.
This crisis changed me personally. I watched Obama drink the water in Flint and joke about licking lead covered walls. I'll never forget what it felt like to have the first Black president not care at all about a Black town poisoned because of racism.
The author points out that by the country not demanding clean water for Flint, we've set a horrifying precedent, and this will happen and, in fact, is already happening all over the USA.
I want to personally thank Jordan Chariton for caring. I want to thank him for his research. I want to thank him for continuing to research and write about these people and this story. This book broke my heart, but thank you for not letting this story die.
Thank you to Jordan Chariton, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
Flint, Michigan STILL does not have clean water, a decade after this whole mess was exposed. This crisis began under President Obama, continued unabated under the presidencies of both Trump & Biden. This will still be a crisis despite whomever wins in November 2024. Both political parties are equally responsible for this nightmare. The cost of this crisis in human lives is tremendous.
This was especially hard to read. The narrators, Pete Cross and Sophie Amoss, do a wonderful job conveying with the tones of their voices how serious and grave this situation was. I was born and raised in Detroit. As a result, the Flint water crisis is both next door and personal. I remember the horror I felt as this situation was exposed. I remember how shocked I was. This book let me know it was so much worse than I imagined.
I truly appreciate the author for calling out directly that this is a result of racism. Governor Snyder is a Republican and a racist. He set up a system in which his state government overrode the legally elected city and town officials with this program called 'Emergency Management'. He would appoint a manager who had the power to override the government elected officials. He did this in primarily Black areas, Detroit also had an 'Emergency Manager'. This is part of the Republican cheatbook, and they've set up similar anti-democratic systems all over the USA in Black Communities. These managers are unpopular with local citizens and usually racist or anti-Black themselves. These managers are corrupt and always make the situations significantly worse than the democratically elected officials.
Anyway, Snyder forced this change by using his cronies to take self-governance away from marginalized communities. This was done because Snyder illegally was profiting off of creating a new water treatment plant because cities were beefing with the Detroit Water Treatment facility. They knew the water was toxic, and the governor specificity worked to cover up the health crisis.
The failure for this isn't just the state and federal government. Journalists and reporters failed us as well. With the exception of this author, reporters stopped caring about this crisis. Most Americans think this issue was resolved. Instead of focusing on this important issue, the trump circus started, and these poor folks suffered. Honestly, our press is so partisan and complicit it's in effect, like we don't have actual journalists anymore. The level of complicity the news has with this crisis is almost on the same level as the government.
This crisis changed me personally. I watched Obama drink the water in Flint and joke about licking lead covered walls. I'll never forget what it felt like to have the first Black president not care at all about a Black town poisoned because of racism.
The author points out that by the country not demanding clean water for Flint, we've set a horrifying precedent, and this will happen and, in fact, is already happening all over the USA.
I want to personally thank Jordan Chariton for caring. I want to thank him for his research. I want to thank him for continuing to research and write about these people and this story. This book broke my heart, but thank you for not letting this story die.
Thank you to Jordan Chariton, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.
Read
January 27, 2025The audiobook was so well done. It felt like one long podcast informing us how corrupt those with power can be (and continue to be). It’s terrifying to think of something this open and known continues to go on and no one has been able to stop it. It’s scary to think how these people in power continue to get away with poisoning the people they pledge to protect.. what does that mean for my local officials? Could they do the same knowing there won’t be any ramifications?
September 3, 2024
I appreciate Chariton’s boots-on-the-ground experience and his commitment to the people of Flint is admirable.
January 7, 2025
The research on and exposure of this ongoing crisis are invaluable. We should all be beyond concerned about how easy it would be to poison people for profit simply by failing to provide clean water (at best) or to purposely create a clean water crisis (at worst.) I am torn at giving this book a lower rating because the topic is so vital. However, the writing is atrocious. I was shocked to learn the author has been a journalist for over ten years. I would have thought he just graduated high school based on his juvenile style and lack of strong stylized prose. It made reading almost unbearable.
October 29, 2024
Incredibly important but totally forgotten. Chariton carries a burden for Flint and the many who've been mistreated and neglected, throughout the water crisis. There Is still neglect and concern.
April 4, 2025
Must. Read.
January 21, 2025
Jordan Chariton's work on this book is incredibly detailed and passionate. Learning about every event he mentioned was devastating and learning of the disgusting greed of people in power was horrifying. I will be recommending this book to everyone.
January 20, 2025
Extremely compelling piece of investigative journalism covering the flint water crisis and the decisions that came before and after. Permanently shook my faith in state government and made me understand some of the deep community skepticism of technocrats that exists in the United States (particularly among communities of color).
I really commend the author for the incredible investigative work here. I did find annoying how hard the author tried to force an anti-capitalism narrative onto the events. He’ll just randomly say things like “Snyder and his capitalist bogeymen didn’t care about the city” when I) the events of the book can speak for themselves, the reader doesn’t need to have their head beaten over with a point like that and ii) capitalism was not the real culprit of this one, the events here are really a case study in unaccountable bureaucracy, the relationship between media and state governments, unelected leaders, and even the influence of nonprofits. It’s much more nuanced than just blaming the whole thing on wallstreet, and it would have been a stronger book if the author had leaned into that nuance instead of trying to fit a pre-conceived narrative.
Takeaways / memorable moments / quotes:
- 50% of the tap water in the US is contaminated with forever chemicals
- “Flint is by far the biggest, most sinister government cover up of the 21st century”
- An unknowable number (but likely hundreds?) of otherwise healthy people died because of the Flint water including children and prime of life adults, and thousands more got horribly sick with symptoms like persistent rashes, hair falling out, memory loss and difficulty moving and walking from heavy metal poisoning and dangerous bacteria.
- Snyder’s administration (including the governor himself almost irrefutably): was aware of the potential issues of switching Flint’s water, ignored multiple health officials and whistleblowers who warned of the risk of switching, was aware of health issues in Flint like Legionnaires disease after the water switch for 16 months before they notified residents and chose to ignore and undermine the issue at every turn, tried to pay off activists complaining about the water, stalked them and their families, cheated on water tests so that they could give an all clear that Flint’s water was safe again when it wasn’t, and destroyed evidence right before and during the Flint criminal investigation
- “The Snyder administration had committed conspiracies of ongoing crimes like an organized crime unit”
- Flint was a city struggling from de-industrialization that was at risk of going bankrupt so Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed multiple emergency manager to manage the city who could overrule the city counsel and mayor in 2011 and 2012. It’s not 100% clear how financially insolvent the city was but the decision seems to have been a combination of that and Rick Snyder’s desire as governor to show he could turn around the state.
- There is a weird shady foundation called the Mott Foundation, founded by the former owner of General Motors that was heavily involved with the appointment of the emergency manager and seemed to play a too active role in Flint city politics and decision making. Mott has a controversial and racist past detailed in a book called “demolition means progress” by Hightower, where they basically advocated heavily for racist government policies in Flint including reclining and segregation.
- Snyder’s treasurer met with Mott, a Mott funded real estate company and the heads of the chamber of commerce (also Mott funded) with the two potential city managers (who Mott put forward) before they were appointed.
- The emergency manager was trying to save the city money, Flint was getting hosed by Detroit on their current water supply deal so he switched the city to the Flint river. He was told upfront that the city’s water plants would need 10s of millions of dollars to be upgraded to process water from the Flint river (which was heavily contaminated from General Motors years before). He basically ignored that.
- It seems like Snyder and the emergency manager, etc. knew that they would be destroying the health of many people of color in Flint but figured it wouldn’t be obvious enough or news enough for anyone to care during Snyder’s tenure before he ran for President.
- The idea to switch flint’s water was invented and pushed by a guy named Jeff Wright, the Genesee County Drain Commissioner. He appears to still hold this role. In December 2011, he argued it would be easier for the city to build their own water system than get water from Detroit, he tried to force this through. This switch was to something called “the kwa pipeline.” Why he thought this was a good idea is unclear but I think a combination of him being a fucking moron and some kind of personal ambition that the switch would give him more state power.
- “I also asked why the Snyder administration was allowing Nestle to pump hundreds of millions of gallons of water per day from Michigan’s Great Lakes for an annual permitting fee of $200”
- The flint river was a dumping ground for 19th century lumber mills, and General Motors, who dumped 10M gallons of waste into the river daily including cyanide for the first half of the 20th century.
-“Essentially what the environmental department was planning was the equivalent of a pilot flying a 757 airliner packed with hundreds of passengers to confirm the engine components were working”
- The Flint debt agreement to raise money to switch their water supply had a provision that required the city to use the flint river as its drinking water source while KWA was constructed.
- “Snyder’s administration fielded complaints for months… they knew General Motors was preparing to stop using flint river water because it was destroying their car parts”
- The city manager had many chances to switch the water back but refused to for fear of looking bad
- “It wasn’t only environmental officials in the Snyder administration whose phones were mysteriously wiped. The majority of text messages belonging to key state health officials for the entire 18 month period flint used the flint river, were, gone”
- “we were being told about people in their 40s, 50s and 60s dying from cancer and liver issues”
- “Of the nearly $400 million dollars that Congress and the Michigan state legislature had allocated to go to Flint Water relief, only $75 million dollars had actually gone to the city”
- “Flint residents had done what we’re all encouraged to do in a Democracy. For nearly a decade they protested peacefully, for nearly a decade they showed up and made their voices heard at city hall, for nearly a decade they lobbied politicians in Washington DC for help, for nearly a decade they waited for government officials to be made accountable through the criminal Justice system”
- Todd Flood, the special prosecutor on the case, was a fucking G. He was fired by Dana Nessel (appointed by the new democratic governor), who is a hack (in spite of being the first gay attorney general in Michigan). She appears to have fired him because she doesn’t like him and wanted to install her own team on the investigation and get credit for it. The team she installed was incompetent and completely fucked up the investigation. Had Dana Nessel not done this, there is a good likelihood Rick Snyder would have gone to jail.
- “Multiple sources confirmed Flood was close to filling a sprawling financial racketeering RICO case against several state officials over the alleged crimes related to the KWA pipeline”
- “Why would Nessel simply drop the KWA fraud matter. Follow the money. If KWA financial fraud charges moved forward in the court the state of Michigan, which Nessel’s office also defends, faced hundreds of millions in potential liability”
- “I’m going to have to live with this my entire life” governor Snyder testified in front of congress in 2016… (to which Ejiah Cummings replied) “there are children that gotta live with it, the damage that has been done, the rest of their lives, and it is painfully painful to think that a child can be damaged until the day the die, and that their destiny has been cut off. So yeah you have to live with it, but many of these children will never be what god intended them when they were born and conceived.”
- “We got a pistol in our mouth every day. It’s called tap water.”
I really commend the author for the incredible investigative work here. I did find annoying how hard the author tried to force an anti-capitalism narrative onto the events. He’ll just randomly say things like “Snyder and his capitalist bogeymen didn’t care about the city” when I) the events of the book can speak for themselves, the reader doesn’t need to have their head beaten over with a point like that and ii) capitalism was not the real culprit of this one, the events here are really a case study in unaccountable bureaucracy, the relationship between media and state governments, unelected leaders, and even the influence of nonprofits. It’s much more nuanced than just blaming the whole thing on wallstreet, and it would have been a stronger book if the author had leaned into that nuance instead of trying to fit a pre-conceived narrative.
Takeaways / memorable moments / quotes:
- 50% of the tap water in the US is contaminated with forever chemicals
- “Flint is by far the biggest, most sinister government cover up of the 21st century”
- An unknowable number (but likely hundreds?) of otherwise healthy people died because of the Flint water including children and prime of life adults, and thousands more got horribly sick with symptoms like persistent rashes, hair falling out, memory loss and difficulty moving and walking from heavy metal poisoning and dangerous bacteria.
- Snyder’s administration (including the governor himself almost irrefutably): was aware of the potential issues of switching Flint’s water, ignored multiple health officials and whistleblowers who warned of the risk of switching, was aware of health issues in Flint like Legionnaires disease after the water switch for 16 months before they notified residents and chose to ignore and undermine the issue at every turn, tried to pay off activists complaining about the water, stalked them and their families, cheated on water tests so that they could give an all clear that Flint’s water was safe again when it wasn’t, and destroyed evidence right before and during the Flint criminal investigation
- “The Snyder administration had committed conspiracies of ongoing crimes like an organized crime unit”
- Flint was a city struggling from de-industrialization that was at risk of going bankrupt so Michigan Governor Rick Snyder appointed multiple emergency manager to manage the city who could overrule the city counsel and mayor in 2011 and 2012. It’s not 100% clear how financially insolvent the city was but the decision seems to have been a combination of that and Rick Snyder’s desire as governor to show he could turn around the state.
- There is a weird shady foundation called the Mott Foundation, founded by the former owner of General Motors that was heavily involved with the appointment of the emergency manager and seemed to play a too active role in Flint city politics and decision making. Mott has a controversial and racist past detailed in a book called “demolition means progress” by Hightower, where they basically advocated heavily for racist government policies in Flint including reclining and segregation.
- Snyder’s treasurer met with Mott, a Mott funded real estate company and the heads of the chamber of commerce (also Mott funded) with the two potential city managers (who Mott put forward) before they were appointed.
- The emergency manager was trying to save the city money, Flint was getting hosed by Detroit on their current water supply deal so he switched the city to the Flint river. He was told upfront that the city’s water plants would need 10s of millions of dollars to be upgraded to process water from the Flint river (which was heavily contaminated from General Motors years before). He basically ignored that.
- It seems like Snyder and the emergency manager, etc. knew that they would be destroying the health of many people of color in Flint but figured it wouldn’t be obvious enough or news enough for anyone to care during Snyder’s tenure before he ran for President.
- The idea to switch flint’s water was invented and pushed by a guy named Jeff Wright, the Genesee County Drain Commissioner. He appears to still hold this role. In December 2011, he argued it would be easier for the city to build their own water system than get water from Detroit, he tried to force this through. This switch was to something called “the kwa pipeline.” Why he thought this was a good idea is unclear but I think a combination of him being a fucking moron and some kind of personal ambition that the switch would give him more state power.
- “I also asked why the Snyder administration was allowing Nestle to pump hundreds of millions of gallons of water per day from Michigan’s Great Lakes for an annual permitting fee of $200”
- The flint river was a dumping ground for 19th century lumber mills, and General Motors, who dumped 10M gallons of waste into the river daily including cyanide for the first half of the 20th century.
-“Essentially what the environmental department was planning was the equivalent of a pilot flying a 757 airliner packed with hundreds of passengers to confirm the engine components were working”
- The Flint debt agreement to raise money to switch their water supply had a provision that required the city to use the flint river as its drinking water source while KWA was constructed.
- “Snyder’s administration fielded complaints for months… they knew General Motors was preparing to stop using flint river water because it was destroying their car parts”
- The city manager had many chances to switch the water back but refused to for fear of looking bad
- “It wasn’t only environmental officials in the Snyder administration whose phones were mysteriously wiped. The majority of text messages belonging to key state health officials for the entire 18 month period flint used the flint river, were, gone”
- “we were being told about people in their 40s, 50s and 60s dying from cancer and liver issues”
- “Of the nearly $400 million dollars that Congress and the Michigan state legislature had allocated to go to Flint Water relief, only $75 million dollars had actually gone to the city”
- “Flint residents had done what we’re all encouraged to do in a Democracy. For nearly a decade they protested peacefully, for nearly a decade they showed up and made their voices heard at city hall, for nearly a decade they lobbied politicians in Washington DC for help, for nearly a decade they waited for government officials to be made accountable through the criminal Justice system”
- Todd Flood, the special prosecutor on the case, was a fucking G. He was fired by Dana Nessel (appointed by the new democratic governor), who is a hack (in spite of being the first gay attorney general in Michigan). She appears to have fired him because she doesn’t like him and wanted to install her own team on the investigation and get credit for it. The team she installed was incompetent and completely fucked up the investigation. Had Dana Nessel not done this, there is a good likelihood Rick Snyder would have gone to jail.
- “Multiple sources confirmed Flood was close to filling a sprawling financial racketeering RICO case against several state officials over the alleged crimes related to the KWA pipeline”
- “Why would Nessel simply drop the KWA fraud matter. Follow the money. If KWA financial fraud charges moved forward in the court the state of Michigan, which Nessel’s office also defends, faced hundreds of millions in potential liability”
- “I’m going to have to live with this my entire life” governor Snyder testified in front of congress in 2016… (to which Ejiah Cummings replied) “there are children that gotta live with it, the damage that has been done, the rest of their lives, and it is painfully painful to think that a child can be damaged until the day the die, and that their destiny has been cut off. So yeah you have to live with it, but many of these children will never be what god intended them when they were born and conceived.”
- “We got a pistol in our mouth every day. It’s called tap water.”
June 1, 2024
Jordan Chariton
We the Poisoned by Jordan Chariton deals with the Flint Water crisis and delves into many of the untold facets of the investigation that followed, along with the events that led up to the flipping of the switch to change over the water supplies for the city. This novel tells a winding tale of government deals, suffering citizens, and deeply entrenched inequality that is hard to believe occurred so near the present day and whose effects are still being acutely felt by the citizens of Flint.
As a very mild criticism in the early book, it can initially be difficult to follow along with the different parties involved in the interlocking machinery of Flint's council and senators; this is not Chariton's fault, simply the nature of the complex situation and the author quickly assists the reader in imagining a vivid mental picture of the parties involved and how they relate to one another. Once this is resolved in the mind of the reader, the gravity of events that led up to and followed the water crisis becomes crystal clear. The stories of the families impacted directly by the disaster and harmed in both body and mind presented within are compelling and heartfelt. Keeping things interesting, the book moves effortlessly back and forth along the timeline, building the blocks of understanding while driving home the truly unacceptable span of time that this crisis is and was permitted to persist. We meet families at the outset of their grief and return to them years later, changed beyond recognition by what they have endured.
Chariton does a sincere and evocative job of portraying the landscape of Flint, the people whose lives were changed forever, and the corrosion of a corrupt government that set in motion the insidious events, all for the dream of another dollar. His journalism is fastidious and evocative, with sympathy for his subjects and wit that sparkles through his writing.
This is an excellent read, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who has found themselves wanting to know the full story of the glimpsed news reports at the time. It helps us understand that Flint still needs attention and help and that the story that unfolded there speaks of an endemic culture of profiteering, which could certainly mean that this water crisis - still not resolved so many years later - is not the last we will see.
We the Poisoned by Jordan Chariton deals with the Flint Water crisis and delves into many of the untold facets of the investigation that followed, along with the events that led up to the flipping of the switch to change over the water supplies for the city. This novel tells a winding tale of government deals, suffering citizens, and deeply entrenched inequality that is hard to believe occurred so near the present day and whose effects are still being acutely felt by the citizens of Flint.
As a very mild criticism in the early book, it can initially be difficult to follow along with the different parties involved in the interlocking machinery of Flint's council and senators; this is not Chariton's fault, simply the nature of the complex situation and the author quickly assists the reader in imagining a vivid mental picture of the parties involved and how they relate to one another. Once this is resolved in the mind of the reader, the gravity of events that led up to and followed the water crisis becomes crystal clear. The stories of the families impacted directly by the disaster and harmed in both body and mind presented within are compelling and heartfelt. Keeping things interesting, the book moves effortlessly back and forth along the timeline, building the blocks of understanding while driving home the truly unacceptable span of time that this crisis is and was permitted to persist. We meet families at the outset of their grief and return to them years later, changed beyond recognition by what they have endured.
Chariton does a sincere and evocative job of portraying the landscape of Flint, the people whose lives were changed forever, and the corrosion of a corrupt government that set in motion the insidious events, all for the dream of another dollar. His journalism is fastidious and evocative, with sympathy for his subjects and wit that sparkles through his writing.
This is an excellent read, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone who has found themselves wanting to know the full story of the glimpsed news reports at the time. It helps us understand that Flint still needs attention and help and that the story that unfolded there speaks of an endemic culture of profiteering, which could certainly mean that this water crisis - still not resolved so many years later - is not the last we will see.
January 5, 2025
From the line “What sense did it make, I asked, that Nestlé could essentially steal water from Michigan’s pristine aquifer, only to bottle it and resell it to the poisoned residents of Flint?”
To
“When the economic drivers of the poisoning of Flint- the international campaign to privatize public assets like water- are not only still in place but expanding, that is a crisis.”
I’m am left with a bubbling rage, as should anyone who pays close attentions to these current crises we face as a species in the name of private equity. From the River to the Sea and to the people of Flint, our institutions have failed you, they are bought. They protect their own. Not the rest of us.
This book is compelling with some jumping around with time lines making it hard to follow at times, but the depths that Jordan Chariton investigated shows promise in what actual reporting looks like, at least should look like.
This book highlights a cause to fight the establishment, and I’m betting it will become more violent towards those at the top since we as a civilization have tried to maintain our composure towards such brutality. But No More.
We need each other more than ever. Never forget Flint.
Power to the people. Stick it to the Man.
To
“When the economic drivers of the poisoning of Flint- the international campaign to privatize public assets like water- are not only still in place but expanding, that is a crisis.”
I’m am left with a bubbling rage, as should anyone who pays close attentions to these current crises we face as a species in the name of private equity. From the River to the Sea and to the people of Flint, our institutions have failed you, they are bought. They protect their own. Not the rest of us.
This book is compelling with some jumping around with time lines making it hard to follow at times, but the depths that Jordan Chariton investigated shows promise in what actual reporting looks like, at least should look like.
This book highlights a cause to fight the establishment, and I’m betting it will become more violent towards those at the top since we as a civilization have tried to maintain our composure towards such brutality. But No More.
We need each other more than ever. Never forget Flint.
Power to the people. Stick it to the Man.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2025
As someone who has spent time in the Flint, Michigan metro area exploring and also vacationing, it is hard not to be mindful of the water crisis that threw this city into the national spotlight for all the wrong reasons. With "We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans", Jordan Chariton explains his findings across multiples trips to the city as well as talking to the people whose lives were forever changed by a tragedy that we as a society simply like all big issues grew tired of and chose to forget. The book itself will make anyone familiar with the area or this type of crisis angry as each step of the way the citizens were thwarted mostly by the Governor Rick Snyder and even at times into the days of the current administration under Gretchen Whitmer. Chariton in details proves the research he has done as an independent investigative reporter and paints a tale that American should be ashamed of and also as something that never should've happened in the first place. A very disturbing & beyond important read in this day and age to make sure people don't forget and that will "hopefully" never happen again.
September 27, 2024
Imagine a world where a basic necessity, like water, was actually poisoning you. That's the reality in flint Michigan. This is such a disheartening book. You'll lose a lot of faith in humanity. It was a great report of what happened for those that know or don't know of the incident in flint Michigan. Incident really isn't a good enough word to accurately describe the injustice happening there. So many people had a hand in the harm and even the death of so many people according to the book. I think this journalism was fantastic. it was well documented and researched, nothing was taken at face value for a grabby headline. I appreciated the insights and especially the epilogue. The epilogue echoed my own sentiments on the situation. The narrator for the audiobook version was easy to understand and told the story well. Thank you netgalley for the advanced reader's version of this book.
October 15, 2024
Jordan Chariton is my go-to news source on Status Coup News, so I knew I had to read his book. I found that reading it would take me longer than I wanted it to, so I waited for the audio book and finished it in just over a week. There are so many in-depth stories and uncovering the cover-ups, and I will continue to support his reporting since we need more to report the truth on the United Corporations of America as he calls it outside of the corrupt circle jerk between corporate-owned media that takes advertising money from the corporate owner-donors who bribe elected officials in both parties and when they win they appoint corporate stooges to head up government agencies to manipulate them for corporate purposes all to gaslight and manipulate people into believing everything is red v blue instead of the truth - the elitist predatory class v everyone else.
January 14, 2025
"After my first trip to Flint, and the horror I saw, a simple truth cemented within me: if the government gets away with poisoning Flint, what's to stop the next set of greedy, reckless, sociopathic bureaucrats from doing it to the rest of us?
Whether the poison is toxic water, oil, uranium, gas, fertilizer, plastics, radioactive waste, diesel petroleum, or another toxin on the long list of contaminants tainting our water, if the truth about the biggest government cover-up of the twenty-first century is never revealed - if those responsible are never held accountable - why wouldn't politicians in the future just borrow from the Flint playbook and enrich themselves at the citizens' expense?"
- Jordan Chariton
Whether the poison is toxic water, oil, uranium, gas, fertilizer, plastics, radioactive waste, diesel petroleum, or another toxin on the long list of contaminants tainting our water, if the truth about the biggest government cover-up of the twenty-first century is never revealed - if those responsible are never held accountable - why wouldn't politicians in the future just borrow from the Flint playbook and enrich themselves at the citizens' expense?"
- Jordan Chariton
October 9, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review
Incredible, I think this needs to be read by everyone. A horrible and terribly sad situation where the people involved need to be held accountable for their actions even if the system won’t do it themselves. Names are mentioned and this story is really just important to know. It’s ongoing and has affected too many people. It’s shocking and disgusting what happened and even though there was a few sections that felt a bit like omg too much info for my brain at once, this needs to be read my everyone. Broke my heart for the people and families dealing with this horrible situation!
Incredible, I think this needs to be read by everyone. A horrible and terribly sad situation where the people involved need to be held accountable for their actions even if the system won’t do it themselves. Names are mentioned and this story is really just important to know. It’s ongoing and has affected too many people. It’s shocking and disgusting what happened and even though there was a few sections that felt a bit like omg too much info for my brain at once, this needs to be read my everyone. Broke my heart for the people and families dealing with this horrible situation!
March 1, 2025
Brutal and heartbreaking. Chariton's journalistic career following the water crisis takes care to humanize the victims and their families, highlighting all the grassroots activism, hopes and dreams; while, rightfully, blaming and citing evidence that shows how corruption and evil politicians will only care about the bottom line profit, time and time again. Though this will not fix all those hurt and lost due to this catastrophe, it should be a required read for all of us. It is the least we can do, listen and acknowledge the injustices done to those in the name of profit.
September 27, 2024
Chariton's investigation and interviews do an incredible job of exposing the crimes and complicity of local and state governments and businesses. This is truly sick. I hate that the "greatest country in the world" is always fucking over other countries and plenty of communities here at home. There has been no accountability and there probably never will, but I appreciate learning about the corruption and layers of lies and obfuscation that Chariton has unwound here.
March 12, 2025
This was a tough book - I had to take big breaks while reading because I got so upset at parts. There are tremendous amount of facts and dates, which slow the pace, but are necessary for the reader to understand the true scope of corruption and governmental failure. Think of it as less narrative and more investigative expose. Really the best example of investigative journalism that I have ever read.
April 9, 2025
Look, this is a compelling, tragic story and the reporting is good. But the indignant asides (“that’s right, while Snider was hobnobbing with republican bigwigs, the EM was literally poisoning the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians…” etc.) become so annoying that it’s hard to stay engaged. A great example of telling rather than showing.
September 20, 2024
Disturbing account of the Flint water crisis and those deemed responsible. Incredible that a cover-up of such magnitude was even possible. How have the perpetrtors evaded justice? My heart goes out to all affected "Flintstones" whose health woes are attributable to drinking tainted water.
October 30, 2024
I was not aware how long this tragedy went on (and apparently still goes on today). This book talks about the corruption, the cover ups, and the severity of the problem. It makes you wonder where this will happen next.
February 4, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. To me it doesn’t pick a side and it does digging on behalf of both sides whether it’s good or bad. I heard about this book via a podcast and I’m so glad I followed through on this one and it wasn’t all hype with no reward. I would recommend to anyone and everyone.
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