Review: A Fool's Errand by Lonnie G. Bunch III
I recently finished listening to the audiobook A Fool's Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump by Lonnie G. Bunch III, museum director at NMAAHC. The book was read by Golden Voice Hall of Fame inductee JD Jackson, recorded by HighBridge Audio, published by Smithsonian Books, and distributed by Recorded Books, Inc. The recording won a 2019 Earphone Award, given by AudioFile Magazine for excellence in narration, along with recognition on the AudioFile Best of Nonfiction & Culture list.
Well-deserving of its awards, the book successfully covered four categories: a timeline of the creation of NMAAHC, events and important people in African history both in the United States and around the world, a memoir for Bunch to describe his childhood and career, and a thematic toolkit for other directors looking to create their own museum. Bunch balanced solemn discussions of oppression, slavery, and racial inequality with genuinely funny stories about fundraising and meeting members of the community. He has the unique ability to namedrop without appearing arrogant, humbly describing meetings with presidents, congresspeople, chiefs, and celebrities.
I had many favorite moments in this book. As an architecture enthusiast, learning about the site selection and design process fascinated me. I was impressed by the collaboration of Ghanaian-British designer David Adjaye, African-American architect Phil Freelon, and architectural firm SmithGroup, particularly by their willingness to change the design to accomodate building codes and a high water table. I was amazed by the generosity of monetary and artifact donations. Collector Dr. Charles L. Blockson gave clothing and photographs related to Harriet Tubman. Daytime talk show host Oprah Winfrey donated a total of $20 million towards the museum and received her own exhibit. Many people donated items belonging to relatives who were Tuskegee Airmen or Freedom Riders.
The only downside to the book was the run time, clocking in at 12 hours and 49 minutes. Contributing to its length was that the writing was repetitive when Bunch emphasized his personality traits: angry from the injustices faced by African-Americans, especially while creating the museum; underprepared or overwhelmed when interacting with politicians and celebrities; and from in New Jersey. These traits make Bunch relatable to the average reader, but I personally do not think they appeared several times in each chapter. Additionally, in his effort to make sure everyone in the project is acknowledged, Bunch lists names of curators and donors. While this must be thrilling for staff and other members of the NMAAHC inner circle to see their names in print or hear them read aloud, I had to check my app to make sure the recording had not accidently skipped to the acknowledgement section.
This book is a great read for patient historians, particularly those interested in the Smithsonian and the African Diaspora. The language is accessible and appropriate for middle school age and up, although the stamina required for the book may make it more appropriate for older readers. Give yourself extra time to lookup names, locations, and events, as you need more context than the text allows, and you can easily to go down a rabbit hole of American history research with the wealth of knowledge provided by Bunch.
Abby Epplett’s Rating System
Experience: 9/10