This was a fascinating book. I think it would be particularly fascinating for people who are reasonably well versed in US history because it's all the same rebellions, the same presidents, the same scandals, but you're looking at them from a new angle with a specific goal in mind. This book addresses the same topics as other history books, but comes from a completely different angle. When the "west" opened, people didn't go there looking for riches, they went there because they had NOTHING and were essentially pushed out of their old, eastern states. Poor southerners didn't give up their lives to protect the rich mans' slave interests. All those poor white men fought because being above blacks was all they had going for them. The institution of slavery was the only thing keeping them from the very bottom and being equal to their dark-skinned brothers. They were so desperate to cling to that one rung of the ladder they were given. This mentality still continues today.
The whole idea of the book, when it comes down to it, is that by denying that class is extremely difficult to break out of, Americans deny the true societal mobility we claim to hold so dear. Everyone would argue "but there's nothing holding any one person back" and list a handful of extremely talents/lucky or genius people as proof. There are ALWAYS exceptions to any made-up rule, like those imposed by society and someone, somewhere who can always break social constructs, but again, those are exceptional people. By saying, "Anyone can climb as high as he pleases." Americans are expecting everyone to be a genius and blame the individual if they are not. If everyone were a genius, then no one would be. Expecting this to be the norm is not only unrealistic, but bizarre.
I would recommend this book to every American with a good background in American history (I think without that you'd be sitting around going, "What's Bacon's rebellion?") It is an eye-opening take on American society.
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