This was a hard book to listen to in that it angered me but was very good. There's lots of dates and names and in the audio book that became hard to track but the overall story is one that must be heard

Jordan Chariton's timely journalism shines in We The Poisoned, 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 Lost, 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.

As the Flint water crisis marks its 10th anniversary, Jordan Chariton shares new details in “We the Poisoned,” a brutally stark look at the controversy surrounding the systematic neglect and poisoning of an entire community.

A little backstory for those unfamiliar: Starting in 2014, it was revealed that the water in Flint, Michigan, was contaminated with lead and Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease. Residents complained, but officials were slow to act, and lives were lost in the process.

Chariton is a phenomenal storyteller. Through extensive research, interviews, reviews of public records and more, the investigative reporter reveals new information that is heartbreaking and difficult to read. That people in our own country are experiencing and have experienced this, is beyond words.

This is an enlightening read and would be perfect for people who enjoy reading about politics, current affairs, corruption and abuse of power.

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.

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!

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 9th October and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of November.

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.

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 at times, 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.

I follow Jordan Chariton on Status Coup/Youtube and while I appreciate the work he does I think he's more effective as a reporter and commentator than as an author. He lays the facts out but doesn't really seek to make them compelling, probably expecting them to be compelling in themselves, which only gets you so far. He also gets repetitive, for example he explains what Legionnaire's Disease is 3 different times within a very short interval. Overall the book just didn't hold my attention the way his on-the-ground reporting does.

✨ 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! Available September 26!

Thank you for the ARC. I enjoyed this different perspective on the water crisis. I commend the author for his devotion and work to tell the story.