Review of Exceptions to Their Rule
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Rose Nafula Oketch
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Review of Exceptions to Their Rule
[Following is a volunteer review of "Exceptions to Their Rule" by Richard S. Sloan.]
Democracy is one of the greatest gifts a country can ever have. A country that is governed and ruled democratically is at peace. Still, seeing what is happening to some countries, democracy has become so fragile, which has led to the rise of autocracy. In Exceptions to Their Rule: Basques and Wabanaki in an Age of Autocrats, by Richard S. Sloan, demonstrates how two cultures exceptionally stood out in an age of autocrats, creating ideals of democracy that are worthy of preservation.
He takes us back to the years 1420–1620 when there was a rise and autocrats dominated the world. Obsessed by lust and greed for power, kings, queens, cardinals, and popes become corrupt to the core. They were after gold, silver, enslaved people, the souls of innocents, and anything their hands landed on corrupted to the core. The autocracy route left a trail of war, death, chaos, and destruction of native cultures across five continents. Despite all that, the people of the Pyrenees—the Basques and the people of the Dawn—the Wabanaki surfaced with promising ideals of democracy, governing themselves, and creating industry operations and an environment for fishing cod, whaling, and trading fur. The book also captures how these two cultures made the first contact and the developed relationship and cooperation between the two cultures that made them like brothers.
I enjoyed the story's timeline, the 1400s, and how it sheds light on untold history and the sanitized version we were taught. I also like that it pinpoints the fragility of democracy during that period, which is still in the twenty-first century. The author did proper and comprehensive research and aided most of his arguments with scholarly bona fides. The Basques and Wabanaki interaction was fascinating, i.e., the mutual understanding and respect between the two, uniting through a sustainable industry and fair dealings, which portrays and proves what two cultures with common sense, respect, and cooperation can achieve.
Additionally, there are a dozen maps, and I found them to add significance to the story. I also loved the author's narrative. In most of the book, Sloan uses a polemic narrative and politicized language. From the book, Sloan wants us to avoid following the treacherous route towards autocracy.
Overall, I rate Exceptions to Their Rule 5 out of 5 stars. It deserves that rating since it was compelling, engaging, and exceptionally edited. I also didn't face any negative aspects to use to critique the book. I recommend the book to Democrats, activists, and those wishing to learn the Basques and the Wabanaki history from 1420 to 1620.
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Exceptions to Their Rule
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Democracy is one of the greatest gifts a country can ever have. A country that is governed and ruled democratically is at peace. Still, seeing what is happening to some countries, democracy has become so fragile, which has led to the rise of autocracy. In Exceptions to Their Rule: Basques and Wabanaki in an Age of Autocrats, by Richard S. Sloan, demonstrates how two cultures exceptionally stood out in an age of autocrats, creating ideals of democracy that are worthy of preservation.
He takes us back to the years 1420–1620 when there was a rise and autocrats dominated the world. Obsessed by lust and greed for power, kings, queens, cardinals, and popes become corrupt to the core. They were after gold, silver, enslaved people, the souls of innocents, and anything their hands landed on corrupted to the core. The autocracy route left a trail of war, death, chaos, and destruction of native cultures across five continents. Despite all that, the people of the Pyrenees—the Basques and the people of the Dawn—the Wabanaki surfaced with promising ideals of democracy, governing themselves, and creating industry operations and an environment for fishing cod, whaling, and trading fur. The book also captures how these two cultures made the first contact and the developed relationship and cooperation between the two cultures that made them like brothers.
I enjoyed the story's timeline, the 1400s, and how it sheds light on untold history and the sanitized version we were taught. I also like that it pinpoints the fragility of democracy during that period, which is still in the twenty-first century. The author did proper and comprehensive research and aided most of his arguments with scholarly bona fides. The Basques and Wabanaki interaction was fascinating, i.e., the mutual understanding and respect between the two, uniting through a sustainable industry and fair dealings, which portrays and proves what two cultures with common sense, respect, and cooperation can achieve.
Additionally, there are a dozen maps, and I found them to add significance to the story. I also loved the author's narrative. In most of the book, Sloan uses a polemic narrative and politicized language. From the book, Sloan wants us to avoid following the treacherous route towards autocracy.
Overall, I rate Exceptions to Their Rule 5 out of 5 stars. It deserves that rating since it was compelling, engaging, and exceptionally edited. I also didn't face any negative aspects to use to critique the book. I recommend the book to Democrats, activists, and those wishing to learn the Basques and the Wabanaki history from 1420 to 1620.
******
Exceptions to Their Rule
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Symone's Purpose by Victoria "Vicki" Lewis
