Methland

The Death and Life of an American Small Town

By: Nick Reding

Narrated by: Mark Boyett

The dramatic story of the methamphetamine epidemic as it sweeps the American heartland a timely, moving, very human account of one community s attempt to battle its way to a brighter future.

Crystal methamphetamine is widely considered to be the most dangerous drug in the world, and nowhere is that more true than in the small towns of the American heartland. Methland tells the story of Oelwein, Iowa (pop. 6,159), which, like thousands of other small towns across the country, has been left in the dust by the consolidation of the agricultural industry, a depressed local economy, and an out-migration of people. As if this weren't enough to deal with, an incredibly cheap, long lasting, and highly addictive drug has rolled into town.

Over a period of four years, journalist Nick Reding brings us into the heart of Oelwein through a cast of intimately drawn characters, including: Clay Hallburg, the town doctor, who fights meth even as he struggles with his own alcoholism; Nathan Lein, the town prosecutor, whose caseload is filled almost exclusively with meth-related crime; and Jeff Rohrick, a meth addict, still trying to kick the habit after 20 years. Tracing the connections between the lives touched by the drug and the global forces that set the stage for the epidemic, Methland offers a vital and unique perspective on a pressing contemporary tragedy.

©2009 Nick Reding (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Mark Boyett’s narration is terrific. He deftly conveys the town’s efforts to deal with the problem and defines various key residents. Particularly strong are his portraits of town doctor Clay Hallburg, who personally observes the growth of the drug and the decline of the town, and prosecutor Nathan Lein, whose caseload is almost entirely meth based." ( AudioFile)

Informative without judgement...

I really really liked this this guy tackled this topic. I learned so much all the while feeling as if he truly cared about his subjects. Perhaps because he was telling a story so close to where he grew up? Informative yet reverent!

very interesting book

a very interesting book I would definitely recommend to anyone interested in this subject. being from Iowa I could relate to the small town life.

Great book

A great read and a good book. I thought it dragged on a tiny bit at the end but it wasn't bad. I really learned a lot from this book and found it interesting for the vast majority of the time. A must listen.

Fascinating Story

Nick Reding obviously put a lot of hard work and research into writing this book. The characters are real and they are unforgettable. Also, lots of great background on the impact of business, agriculture, the economy, immigration, politics and big pharma on America's struggle with this easily attainable, highly-addictive drug. Definitely worth a listen - keep an open mind. Not everything is as you think and understanding the complexities is the first step to reaching a solution.

Interesting read, then falls off

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes, but only to be read on a larger scale than just meth.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Sorta falls off without much closure.

Have you listened to any of Mark Boyett’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

Was Methland worth the listening time?

50% of the book was very good. The other 50% was about big industry ruining middle America, and not even about meth. It's worth listening to but, I would not rush to listen to it.

Any additional comments?

If you are looking for an in depth study of meth use in America, this is not for you. However this is a very good study about the decline of middle class Americans in the Mid-west.

Remarkable a courageous labor of love/ scholarship

Where does Methland rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Best so far

What was one of the most memorable moments of Methland?

His fascinating description of the local woman who built up a small meth empire
Also his run-in with the meth addict in the bar

What about Mark Boyett’s performance did you like?

Very good voice shifts from sweet to gruff and ability to take on different voices for different characters. Very believable voices. Even the southern accent wasn't bad. Mr Boyett is truly easy to listen to and wonderfully talented. Hope to hear more from him.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Mr. Reding brought his own history into the mix.

Any additional comments?

All concerned citizens and especially government and industry people need to have a seminar from Mr Reding. Hope his message will reach other countries in the world in danger of this meth cancer.

Meth

Would you consider the audio edition of Methland to be better than the print version?

I have not read the printed version so I can not compare the two.

Who was your favorite character and why?

This is a non-fiction book.

Any additional comments?

This book is a very interesting non-fiction account of Meth on a small town in America. It also shows surprising connections between big business and the meth epidemic.

Interesting Story - Can't feel sorry for them

Not sure the author wants you to feel sorry for those in the book but there is an attempt to portray those affected by meth as victims. I am a compassionate person but ultimately human beings make choices and there are consequinces for those choices. The real vicitims are those trying to make an honest liviing amonst the meth problem and suffer as their small towns die in support of the drug buisness.
I was particularly interested in the part where govenement regulation actually promoted the meth industry. This book is well written and the narration is pretty good. I recommend it as a good overview to the entire meth problem.

Excellent book.

This account of the meth epidemic in rural America is well-written and provocative. The author does not simply focus on meth and its ravages. He places the epidemic in the larger context of globalization, immigration policy, the power of the drug lobby, and changes in American agriculture that have decimated family farms and rural communities. For anyone who grew up in the midwest and who has seen the gradual decline of small towns and the increase in rural poverty, this will be a compelling read. For students of politics and economic history, the book is a must-read because of the breadth of the analysis and the prediction that what is true in Olwein, Iowa today may be true of Scarsdale, NY in a matter of years.

Riveting!

I could not stop talking about this book. It is one of the best listens I have found. The author combines personal stories and hard facts in a way that keeps the book from being dry or weepy. Wonderful!