dev921's review against another edition

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dark informative fast-paced

5.0


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lindseylosers's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative mysterious sad fast-paced

5.0


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phob's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Probably the best book I’ve ever read 

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jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

5.0

David Grann is one of our greatest nonfiction authors alive. Every topic he chooses is brought to life no matter how many years have passed since the events took place. His writing is smooth and unobtrusive, describing the past in a matter-of-fact, approachable way. If history books had been like this in high school, we’d all have gone on to be scholars. 

Killers of the Flower Moon is an especially difficult book to read, not because of the writing but because the subject is so painful. Grann documents how literally hundreds of Osage were murdered for riches in the early 20th C. As American Indians, their lives were worth less than that of dogs. An entire corrupt and venal society was arrayed against them. Well aware they were systematically being murdered, they had no recourse. The authorities, both political and legal, were complicit in the murders. No one would help save them from eradication. 

This is an excellent telling of a dark and shameful time in our history. If only this much attention had been paid a hundred years ago some of the Osage who were murdered might have lived. 

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jillianselene's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5


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tiffyd's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0


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adam0k's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25


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nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark informative mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

absolutely fantastic journalism. well-researched, and exceptionally organized and paced. the content is so difficult and chilling, not an easy read by any account

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lorenag5's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

4.5


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corriejn's review against another edition

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3.5

My suggestion: read just the first ~1/3 and then look up how the situation turned out. A bit overdramatic in places for me, but I learned about a lot of historical events I wasn't familiar with, in that first section. If someone is interested in learning about "the birth of the FBI," this probably wouldn't be the most satisfying option, either-- it's not really about that, the second section is more detailing the life and career of one particular agent (in the precursor to the FBI), including before and after these events.

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