“But you had to be able to buy a ticket at the start.” “The affluent American suburb may be the greatest wealth accumulation engine of all time”, McKibben writes. (Lexington is 1.3% black and has got less diverse over recent decades.) The founding stories of farmers standing up to empire ring a little hollow in a country that has gone on to be so unequal, he argues – but those stories should still inspire.
It moves forward into Lexington’s history, using it as a case study for how the country’s wealthiest areas have resisted affordable housing and maintained a privileged – and white – exclusivity. The book probes those founding stories, sifting truth and myth, pointing out bits of the story that are usually left out. It’s a shame to cede the flag to the right, he argues – though America needs an honest reckoning with its history. McKibben is well versed in these local stories, having served as a guide to tourists in his youth, and sees himself as a patriot. This is very much based in Lexington, where McKibben grew up, and a place that features prominently in America’s founding stories. First up is the flag, reflecting on American patriotism and the country’s sense of itself. The book comes with three central chapters, covering the topics promised in the title. It’s thoughtful, curious, and as that subtitle suggests – ‘A graying American looks back at his suburban boyhood and wonders what the hell happened’ – there’s a wry sense of humour at work here too. His new book is “as much memoir as I’m likely to write”, looking back on changes in America over his lifetime. Over the years, Bill McKibben has become one of the most influential activists in the climate movement.
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