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We usually think of eugenics as a social policy that arose in Nazi Germany. But the United States built eugenic institutions where the unwanted were put away long before Hitler rose to power, and, as Michael D'Antonio reveals here, we kept these institutions operating long after World War II ended. This is a brilliant, masterfully reported story, and by recounting the lvies of the boys incarcerated at Fernald State School in Massachusetts, he has written a deeply moving book of lasting historical importance.
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This is a great book which gives a lesson in eugenics. Back in the first half of the 20th century there was a movement to eliminate people not up to the standards of 'society'. They would give children an IQ test and if they scored low they would be placed in state run homes. This would be less fortunate people that were poor and may have not had a proper education or may have had a learning disability. This is one man's story of growing up in a Home for the Feeble Minded. I really enjoyed hearing his story. It was also interesting that these same proponents of eugenics here in the US inspired Adolf Hitler.
