Detroit: An American Autopsy

Detroit: An American Autopsy is a 2013 book by Charlie LeDuff, published by Penguin Books. In the book LeDuff discusses the present state of Detroit and its economic, social, crime, and political issues.[1]

Detroit: An American Autopsy
AuthorCharlie LeDuff
LanguageEnglish
GenreNon-fiction
Published2013
PublisherPenguin Books
ISBN978-1-59420-534-7

LeDuff had grown up in the Detroit suburbs (Westland/Livonia), left and become a journalist, working for The New York Times for a decade and winning a Pulitzer Prize while there. In March 2008 he was living in Los Angeles with his family when he decided to move back to Detroit.[2]

The book material originates from news stories LeDuff, a journalist, had covered for The Detroit News.[3] His discussion of the crime issue includes interviews with police officers,[4] and there is also a segment about firefighters combating arsonists.[5] His discussion of Detroit politics includes interactions with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and political figures including Adolph Mongo and Monica Conyers. Duff includes stories about his own family life.[4] James Sullivan of the Boston Globe stated "Like listening to him hold court in a corner bar, the book scuttles from one grueling episode to the next, both personal and professional."[3]

The audiobook version uses reader Eric Martin.[5] In the audio version Martin uses various speech styles, including both educated and inner city styles.[5]

Reception

Paul Clemens of The New York Times wrote that "LeDuff has done his best, and his book is better than good."[1] Sue-Ellen Beauregard of Booklist concluded that the book is "[a]n eye-opening look".[5]

In regards to the audio version, Beauregard wrote "Even if Martin mispronounces Mackinac (Michiganders know the final syllable sounds like "naw"), he makes us believe that his voice is that of the crusty reporter."[5]

LeDuff was interviewed about the book on NPR's Fresh Air program on February 11, 2013.[6]

See also

References
  1. Clemens, Paul. "Breakdown ‘Detroit: An American Autopsy,’ by Charlie LeDuff." The New York Times. February 22, 2013. Retrieved on July 12, 2014.
  2. Detroit, an American Autopsy, by Charlie LeDuff, Penguin Press, New York, 2013, pg. 20, pg. 30
  3. Sullivan, James. "‘Detroit: An American Autopsy’ by Charlie LeDuff." Boston Globe. February 4, 2013. Retrieved on July 12, 2014.
  4. Bush, Vanessa. "Detroit: An American Autopsy" (review). Booklist. February 1, 2013, Vol.109(11), p.12(2). Retrieved on July 12, 2014. "He reports on surreptitious meetings with police officers to counter rosy reports of declining crime rates."
  5. Beauregard, Sue-Ellen. "Detroit: An American Autopsy" (review of audiobook). Booklist. July 1, 2013, Vol.109(21), p.51(2). Retrieved on July 12, 2014. "Martin occasionally reverts to some realistic urban dialects and even utters the cultured speech patterns of a wannabe Johnny Cochrane lawyer."
  6. Fresh Air interview with Charlie Le Duff, February 11, 2013

Further reading
  • Barone, Michael. "The unheavenly city."(Detroit: An American Autopsy)(Book review) Claremont Review of Books, Spring, 2013, Vol.13(2), p. 33(2)
  • Lofton, Louann. "A native son writes movingly about Detroit's downfall" (review). Mississippi Business Journal, May 23, 2014, Vol.36(21), p. 17(1)
  • Lord, Douglas C. "LeDuff, Charlie. Detroit: An American Autopsy." (Brief article)(Audiobook review). Library Journal, September 1, 2013, Vol.138(14), p. 74(2)
  • Patriquin, Martin. "Detroit: An American Autopsy."(Book review) Maclean's, March 11, 2013, Vol.126(9), p. 62(1)
  • Schama, Chloe. "Detroit: An American Autopsy" (review). Smithsonian, Feb, 2013, Vol.43(10), p. 104(2)
  • Shea, Bill. "Motor City madman." (Detroit: An American Autopsy)(Book review) Columbia Journalism Review, January–February, 2013, Vol.51(5), p. 56(2) [Peer Reviewed Journal]
  • Siegel, Fred. "Necropolis." (Detroit: An American Autopsy)(Book review) Commentary, April, 2013, Vol.135(4), p. 51(2)
  • "LeDuff, Charlie: Detroit." (Brief article)(Book review) Kirkus Reviews, December 15, 2012.
  • "Detroit: An American Autopsy."(Brief article)(Book review) Publishers Weekly, December 3, 2012, Vol.259(49), p. 65(2)
  • "Detroit: An American Autopsy." (Brief article)(Audiobook review) California Bookwatch, August, 2013, p. 30(1)
  • "A Winter's Tale." (OMNIVORE) (Book reviews including that of Detroit: An American Autopsy) Newsweek, January 4, 2013, Vol.161(01), p. 1
  • Bernstein, Amy. "Cities as ideas." (Archive). Harvard Business Review, April, 2013, Vol.91(4), p. 138(2) [Peer Reviewed Journal]
  • Taylor, Ihsan. "Paperback Row." (Book Review Desk)(Book review) The New York Times Book Review, Feb 9, 2014, p. 28(L)
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