We the Poisoned: Exposing the Flint Water Crisis Cover-Up and the Poisoning of 100,000 Americans by Jordan Chariton is a gripping and detailed account of one of the most catastrophic environmental crises in American history. Chariton, a seasoned investigative journalist, takes readers on a harrowing journey through the Flint water crisis, shedding light on the systemic failures that allowed the contamination of the city’s water supply and the subsequent cover-up by both local and state authorities.

The book excels in its thorough research, offering an in-depth look at the lives of those affected by the crisis and the tireless efforts of activists and whistleblowers to expose the truth. Chariton’s investigative reporting is meticulous, and his ability to weave together personal stories with political and environmental analysis makes the book both informative and emotionally impactful.

However, while the book provides a powerful narrative, at times it becomes more focused on uncovering the details of the cover-up than on offering a broader understanding of the systemic issues at play. Some readers might find the technical aspects of the crisis, such as the water testing data and bureaucratic processes, a bit dense or repetitive. Additionally, while Chariton’s anger and passion for the subject are evident, the book occasionally lacks a sense of resolution or a clear pathway forward for addressing the issues raised.

Despite these minor drawbacks, We the Poisoned is a critical and important read that holds those in power accountable for their role in the Flint water crisis. Chariton’s compelling narrative and investigative prowess make this an essential book for anyone seeking to understand the deep-seated issues of environmental injustice, governmental negligence, and the fight for public health.

This book needs to go through another round of editing to remove all the author asides. I made it 40% of the way before I DNF because the author snarks "does a bear shit in the woods?". I have read many a book about corruption but the point of journalism is to tell the story fairly and ethically without inserting yourself into the narrative. What happened was tragic but the reader needs to be shown that through narrative not told that through snide comments from the author . I want to know more about this story but this book is unreadable as it stands currently

Chariton is an excellent journalist who is telling an important story, and this book reflect years of on-the-ground reporting on a complex situation. The Flint water cover-up is confusing and bureaucratic, but he keeps it focused on what's important: the health of Flint residents. There is a lot of repetition of previously stated facts, which is helpful for remembering all the pieces but sometimes overdone. I also think Chariton's inexperience in writing book-length narratives really shows in certain places.

Whenever people say "Oh we should fix this terrible thing happening around our homes" other people say "The people can just move." As if moving doesn't cost money. As if they wouldn't have to leave the homes and people behind that they love. It isn't that simple. And we all pay taxes so we can have clean water and roads and other essential infrastructure.
When we learned about the Flint Water Crisis I think a lot of us assumed it would be fixed quickly. No one wants to poison and kill their own city/state, but we were wrong. We were so wrong.
I just really appreciate this book. I was a little put off by the language some of the men used, especially the thing about the baby after they kick the babysitters out of the room, but it was the perfect metaphor for what was being done to the water supply. I just forget that men talk that way.
I am proud of the author for investigating and reporting on all of this.