by Tom Schaller
First published 2024
Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman investigate a troubling paradox in American politics. Rural White voters wield enormous electoral influence yet watch their communities decline through poor healthcare, crumbling infrastructure, and disappearing jobs. The authors argue these voters feel betrayed by the nation they claim to love most. Republican politicians and conservative media exploit this anger instead of solving real problems. The result creates citizens who embrace patriotic rhetoric while rejecting democratic norms. Schaller and Waldman document how this group increasingly accepts conspiracy theories, political violence, and racist beliefs. They show how rural Whites maintain disproportionate political power while their genuine grievances go unaddressed. The book exposes the feedback loop between conservative messaging and rural resentment that threatens American democracy. The authors conclude by proposing structural changes and policy solutions that could benefit rural communities while preserving democratic institutions.
Genres: political-science, politics, sociology, non-fiction, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: political-critique, social-commentary
Setting: America, United States
Period: 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Random House
Content warnings: racism