4 out of 5 stars
Share This Review
Most people will agree with my thought that 2022 was just one of those years, an endless rollercoaster ride. It was a year marked by several things; the pandemic, political upheaval, death and transition of a monarch, and social unrest amid a host of other things. But could there be things we missed? This book, In Plain Sight, by Susan V. Mallet, takes us through the events of that year, offering different perspectives on them.
Susan starts writing by sharing her background and giving her motivation for writing the book. She talks about her medical career, noting the training that taught her to question things and insightfully look at them with the aim of observing patterns. Behind the news, she says, she saw patterns of stories that were even more relevant and would give more insights into issues. She then starts with her first day of observation, January 20th. She details that day's news, the state of Covid, and calls for interventions, among other things. She then opines her opinions and analysis of that day's news. The following chapters follow the same pattern, organized chronologically with dates throughout the year. The last date she discussed was December 31st.
One of the stand-out aspects of the book was the author's ability to break down complex issues into simple bits. I finally got to understand the politics behind Britain's three prime ministers in a few months. She analyzed and broke down those details and events expertly. I also liked the book's coverage of the war in Ukraine. It was almost as if I was watching it unfold afresh. She gives details of its development, from the threats of invasion to the escalation of the war. She also analyzes the actions of both Western and Russian leaders quite comprehensively, pointing out their impacts on the escalation or possible end of that conflict. The author also summarized the royal events of the year quite well. It was a respectful and candid analysis of the situation in the British Monarchy.
The author's style of writing is engaging and quite accessible. She used simple and easily comprehensible language to put her points across. The organization of the book was also perfect. The chronological order of events and chapters made it easy to follow and reference. Susan also did a great job with the editing.
There were, however, some drawbacks to the writing. First is the danger that comes with every piece trying to uncover hidden truths; they often appear conspiratorial. The author's views, especially on vaccinations, could easily pass as conspiracies. In my opinion, she did not do enough to make her claims more compelling and authentic. I would have loved more evidence, citations, approved data, and sources. Also, I was put off when, in the first few pages of the book, she uses the very demeaning nickname President Donald Trump uses to refer to President Biden. I thought that was unprofessional, unnecessary, and avoidable.
Despite the flaws, this book is a detailed and informative work covering a wide range of issues. I give it a rating of four out of five stars. It is well-written and professionally edited, as I only noticed a few minor errors. I deducted a star because of the negatives I listed in the preceding chapter. The book is excellent for anyone who wishes to understand the events of 2022 more deeply. Readers should also note that the author's views are dominantly right-wing.
******
In Plain Sight
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
