# AWFUL PEOPLE: Tales of Justice and Our Craving for Fairness (new book) **URL:** \ **Category:** Marketplace\ **Created:** [August 29, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-people-tales-of-justice-and-our-craving-for-fairness-new-book/1032676 "2026-08-29T20:24:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-people-tales-of-justice-and-our-craving-for-fairness-new-book/1032676/1 "2026-08-29T20:24:28Z")
Like many here, I’ve been feeling the frustration that comes of watching the national scene in the USA, unable to comprehend how such awfulness could become so firmly entrenched in power. History shows too many other examples over the decades (and centuries). But putting aside the historical realities—I started wondering how, over that time, people have mentally processed such situations through the medium of fiction. (A basic assumption: that humans _ **do** _ mentally and/or emotionally sort through real-life circumstances, in ways yet not fully explained, when we take in fiction.) Many authors of notable fiction have handled the topic of horrible people lording it over others, whether in government, workplace, or family setting. Outcomes vary from the bleakness of Orwell’s _1984_ and _Animal Farm_, to the relatively sunny conviction that _Good Teens Will Win Out over Bad Rulers_ in the Young Adult dystopias (such as the Hunger Games and Divergent franchises). I gathered over a hundred tales—novels, short stories, movies, television, plays, and even a poem—and sorted them into categories based on the authors’ choices on how to present the topic of Awful People. The result, I hope, is entertaining. The volume contains six full public-domain short stories, extended excerpts of other PD works, and quotations (under Fair Use) from copyrighted writings. All are examined from the standpoint of grasping how Story can help us mentally cope with the Awful People we know (or are subjected to). The book is available in both paperback and eBook formats: P: [AWFUL PEOPLE: Tales of Justice and Our Craving for Fairness: LOWRY, K. SHERRERD: 9781945939099: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/AWFUL-PEOPLE-Justice-Craving-Fairness/dp/1945939095/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) e: [AWFUL PEOPLE: Tales of Justice and Our Craving for Fairness - Kindle edition by LOWRY, K. SHERRERD. Arts & Photography Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.](https://www.amazon.com/AWFUL-PEOPLE-Justice-Craving-Fairness-ebook/dp/B0HGVR9LSM) [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719K8WAYTCL._SY385_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719K8WAYTCL._SY385_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-people-tales-of-justice-and-our-craving-for-fairness-new-book/1032676/2 "2026-08-29T22:41:52Z")
Congratulations! I just ordered it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/awful-people-tales-of-justice-and-our-craving-for-fairness-new-book/1032676/3 "2026-08-30T22:08:04Z")
Many thanks! I hope you’ll enjoy it. I did make the effort to make this a readable volume–pleasant to hold and read. Too many use a tiny font, because that leads to fewer pages and a lower cost-to-print (so higher royalty). Of course for the eBook–well, _they_ choose the font on those, so I don’t have anything to add on the readability. Looking over my OP, I may have left the impression that this is a book about politics. Though the political scene _ **is** _ what got me thinking about the topic, politics is relevant to only 1% or so of the book. (No Presidents are mentioned, for example.) Government, rulers, and politics come into play mainly in the discussion of dystopias. The section on _Animal Farm_ includes: > [@](#): > > [Orwell] had sufficient time in the thick of things to closely observe the various flavors of authoritarianism that vied for supremacy in Spain. The Communist forces, including the Trotskyites and their pro-Soviet rivals, provided Orwell with a full education in the propaganda, trials, and “flagrant absurdities” of autocratic governments. > > In _Animal Farm_, Orwell gave full expression to his cynical view of the Russian Revolution and its apologists. > > As noted above, Orwell, like Sinclair, did not provide a happy ending for the protagonists of his story. In the case of _Animal Farm_ we are introduced to a sympathetic band of animals who believe the promises they are given. They are told that a better world lies ahead—if only they will sacrifice their health and freedoms now. > > Orwell knew all too well what such promises are really worth. Time and again in his story, his animals question the bargain they are being asked to make—but they ultimately accept, once again, their exploitation. > > Why do people accept being exploited by a tyrant? Why don’t they rise up in protest, and expel the tyrant? Why do the Awful People prevail so often? These are timeless questions. Orwell’s answer was that the animals’ own good will and eagerness to cooperate worked against them, because they were the victims of smooth liars. … That’s as close to commentary on the current political scene as the book comes. (IOW, not very close.) A bit more about the book (physical and otherwise)– - · Comfortable reading size (5 x 8”) and 12-point font - · Commentary on over one hundred individual works: short stories, novels, movies, television, plays, poetry - · Focus on the Awful People in each story, and what fate that person meets - · Six public-domain short stories are analyzed (and included) - · Excerpts from other works are examined and the Awful People depicted are scrutinized - · Summaries point up the approach each author has taken to the topic of Awful People