Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer

 

I finished listening to the unabridged audio version of Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer in August of this year. The contents presented within Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town made my skin crawl and my blood boil. I knew going in that this nonfiction book was going to be a rough read based on the topic of rape. But just how rough was an entirely different matter altogether.

Rape is such an ugly crime. It’s also one of the most unreported violent crimes (if not the number one unreported violent crime) in the United States. To make matters worse, rapes that are reported rarely make it to trial. Additionally, women between the ages of 18 and 24 are the most likely demographic to be be raped. Other statistics regarding rape are simply appalling as well.

Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town is the first book I've read by Jon Krakauer. It is a well written book. I enjoyed how the content was presented and look forward to reading more books written by Jon Krakauer.

Below is a summary for Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer from the author's website:

Missoula, Montana, is a typical college town, home to a highly regarded state university whose beloved football team inspires a passionately loyal fan base. Between January 2008 and May 2012, hundreds of students reported sexual assaults to the local police. Few of the cases were properly handled by either the university or local authorities. In this, Missoula is also typical.

In these pages, acclaimed journalist Jon Krakauer investigates a spate of campus rapes that occurred in Missoula over a four-year period. Taking the town as a case study for a crime that is sadly prevalent throughout the nation, Krakauer documents the experiences of five victims: their fear and self-doubt in the aftermath; the skepticism directed at them by police, prosecutors, and the public; their bravery in pushing forward and what it cost them. These stories cut through abstract ideological debate about acquaintance rape to demonstrate that it does not happen because women are sending mixed signals or seeking attention. They are victims of a terrible crime, deserving of fairness from our justice system. Rigorously researched, rendered in incisive prose, Missoula stands as an essential call to action.

I am giving Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town by Jon Krakauer a rating of 5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!