This book recounts the life and death of Eric Garner, a black man who was killed by police using an illegal choke hold for the crime of selling illegal cigarettes. But this book does not paint Eric as a saint, or as a sinner, but as a man who tried, a man who loved his family and was proud of his kids. A man who wanted to be a good father and husband but did not always measure up. At a younger age, he had dealt drugs and served time thus effectively limiting his options before he had a chance to even understand the results of his actions. He was a funny guy, and had a command of numbers and sports statistics. He was well liked. After his death, his daughter Erica became a well-known activist who tried to get justice for her father's death. This book was published before her tragic death early in 2018. I wish there was no need for books like this. Taibbi does a good job of showing the big picture, delving into the legal system, policing and bigger policies that affect all of us but not as tragically as Eric Garner.
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