American Nations

I read American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard for my book club. The book description says, "According to award-winning journalist and historian Colin Woodard, North America is made up of eleven distinct nations, each with its own unique historical roots. In American Nations he takes readers on a journey through the history of our fractured continent, offering a revolutionary and revelatory take on American identity, and how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and continue to mold our future. From the Deep South to the Far West, to Yankeedom to El Norte, Woodard reveals how each region continues to uphold its distinguishing ideals and identities today, with results that can be seen in the composition of the U.S. Congress or on the county-by-county election maps of any hotly contested election in our history."

This book was really not my type of book, and I knew that from the beginning. But I pushed through, alternating between reading and audiobook, and I managed to finish a few hours before book club. Phew! For me, the topic was just a little dry, and it wasn't super engaging. I did find some parts interesting (like the history of the Tidewater region, where I grew up), and the overall topic itself is kind of an interesting premise (like the history behind each region affects the behavior, attitudes, and beliefs of the people who live there even now). It was also a pretty good book to discuss at book club, especially with a group of women who grew up and have lived in different places. Overall, I'm proud of myself for reading it, but I probably would have been content with a 40 page summary on the topic. (But everyone else in book club seemed to love it, so if you're into this kind of thing, go for it.)

Rating: * (1/3 = It was okay)