It’s always intriguing to find that you only need a few tricks blended with the effects of time to erode and modify people’s memory and appraisal of events or individuals. With a couple of white lies, cover-ups, and take backsies; you can make anyone see what’s not there or ignore what’s in plain sight. But John O’Connor isn’t an easy prey for deception.

In White Lies Matter: Decoding American Deceptionalism, artist and art professor John A. O’Connor points out the historical and contemporary inconsistencies plaguing American society. From issues on social justice to political matters, tainted historical accounts to double-mouthed American sweethearts, our author leaves no stone unturned in his attempt to set the records straight. He aims to uncover the long queue of American hypocrisy on display. To do this, he digs into both American systems and notable figures across several historical points.

O’Connor’s book will prompt you to question your knowledge of the world’s greatest country. The book – created as a set of digital art plates paired with explanatory text – is as visually stimulating as it’s mentally arousing. The author casts a wide net, and you’ll find many issues caught in it. He begins by punching holes in the claims that Columbus discovered America. Then he slowly works his way up to more sensitive matters. For instance, he contests America’s validity as a Christian nation since evidence from the earliest historical documents negates this notion. Past leaders aren’t spared, too, as O’Connor challenges their sainthood by revealing situations where they displayed conflicting values. You might be shocked at what you’ll learn about your favorite American heroes.

O’Connor’s concerns aren’t only with the past, though. He touches on contemporary issues that aren’t discussed enough, like the adverse effects of drilling for oil. He then shows that the public’s rating of the United States’ performance in critical areas like healthcare and law enforcement is inflated. You can be sure that the media gets a good beat down, too, for the recent flurry of fake news or “yellow journalism”. You’d expect a professor to write well, but O’Connor’s writing isn’t merely academic; it’s creative and engaging. He argues using metaphors and other storytelling elements that make his work very appealing yet easy to grasp.

This book’s arguments are unlike typical claims usually steeped in bogus conspiracy theories. O’Connor presents actual names of people, places, events, and dates, which anyone can quickly lookup. At other times, he simply helps us to connect dots that have always laid around. While there are speculations one might deem to be a stretch, his work is credible enough to provide a reasonable starting point on our quest to find the truth. Based on the research that went into it and the author’s delivery, I found the book to be a great read. O’Connor’s work might send you burrowing furiously down the holes of history to sate your curiosity. So, brace yourself.

Pages: 138 | ISBN: 1663210950