First published 2015
Mike Huckabee surveys the fractured landscape of contemporary American culture, where conversations about class, race, politics, religion, and gender have become treacherous territory. The former Arkansas governor contrasts what he calls "Bubble-villes" - the elite power centers - with "Bubba-villes" where most Americans actually live. Huckabee dissects government waste, from presidential golf trips costing taxpayers $2.9 million to bailouts and political excess. He tackles pop culture figures from Jay-Z and Beyoncé to Honey Boo-Boo and the Duck Dynasty family. The book covers gun rights, same-sex marriage, declining patriotism, and media hostility toward faith-based Americans. Huckabee criticizes both major political parties while addressing national security and constitutional erosion. He weaves in stories of ordinary Americans weathering difficult times alongside reflections on American life past, present, and future. Despite addressing controversial topics, Huckabee maintains his characteristic humor and presents an optimistic vision of patriotism that celebrates American values.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: gritty
Setting: America, Arkansas
Period: 21st-Century
272 pages · Hardcover · St. Martin's Press