“Detroit: An American Autopsy” by Charlie LeDuff – Understanding the Winds of Change

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff (Book cover)
There was a time when Detroit was arguably the greatest city in America; the automotive industry was skyrocketing, and the city was at the center of it all. New factories kept opening up, creating many new opportunities for people to come over and try to live the American dream.

However, somewhere down the line, things started falling apart, bit by bit. Today, Detroit is dangerously close to becoming a ghost town, having countless abandoned buildings (both private and municipal), severely under-budgeted public services and a rapidly-declining population.

Charlie LeDuff, Pulitzer award-winning journalist, was born in Detroit, and the current state of affairs simply breaks his heart. For this reason (and perhaps some other ones), he decided to go back to his hometown and sort through its ruins in an attempt to not only understand what happened and how, but also to ensure the old Detroit is never forgotten. 

As one would expect, LeDuff conducts his autopsy of Detroit in the same manner as virtually any journalist would; interviews, interviews, more interviews, and a healthy dose of research. As you can guess, the interesting part of the book is mainly focused on what the people who live and were living there have to say about the situation.

We get to really see how peoples’ lives were changed by the events which turned the city around, and perhaps more interestingly, we get to see how they still manage to live there. We get input from a number of people from all walks of life, ranging from homeless squatters to the few rich and powerful businessmen who have managed to keep their heads above water despite the conditions surrounding them.

LeDuff’s own input and thoughts on the situation are also quite interesting to read. Being a native of Detroit and seeing his hometown in ruins really brings out a whole range of thoughts and emotions out of him, giving us a good glimpse inside his mind. 

Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff (Book cover)
Though there is some humor strewn in around, the matter remains quite serious for in the end, this is a book which chronicles the glorious days of Detroit as well as its fall, bringing to reality the thought that it may actually be too late to save or salvage the city. 

If Detroit is a town that has caught your attention recently and you have been curious to learn more about its former days and current condition, then I definitely recommend you check out Detroit: An American Autopsy.

Charlie LeDuff (Author)

Charlie LeDuff



Born in 1966, Charlie LeDuff is a Pulitzer prize winner who has lived his life as an American journalist, author and media personality, working on numerous news stations throughout his career and releasing three books so far: Detroit: An American Autopsy, Work and Other Sins and US Guys.



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