American Nations

A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America

By: Colin Woodard

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

An illuminating history of North America's 11 rival cultural regions that explodes the red state/blue state myth.

North America was settled by people with distinct religious, political, and ethnographic characteristics, creating regional cultures that have been at odds with one another ever since. Subsequent immigrants didn't confront or assimilate into an "American" or "Canadian" culture, but rather into one of the 11 distinct regional ones that spread over the continent, each staking out mutually exclusive territory.

In American Nations, Colin Woodard leads us on a journey through the history of our fractured continent and the rivalries and alliances between its component nations, which conform to neither state nor international boundaries. He illustrates and explains why "American" values vary sharply from one region to another.

Woodard reveals how intranational differences have played a pivotal role at every point in the continent's history, from the American Revolution and the Civil War to the tumultuous sixties and the "blue county/red county" maps of recent presidential elections. American Nations is a revolutionary and revelatory take on America's myriad identities and how the conflicts between them have shaped our past and are molding our future.

©2011 Colin Woodward (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

Critic reviews

"Woodard offers a fascinating way to parse American (writ large) politics and history in this excellent book." ( Kirkus)

"Woodard explains away partisanship in American Nations... which makes the provocative claim that our culture wars are inevitable. North America was settled by groups with distinct political and religious value - and we haven't had a moment's peace since." ( Publishers Weekly)

FASCINATING AND SCARY!

This is a small work that packs a great deal of history. As one on the outside looking in, I never could understand why the U.S. government is so dysfunctional. Now I know. President Obama was right when he said, “We are not a red state and a blue state”, but wrong when he said, “we are the united states of America”. According to this author, the U.S. is made up of a number of “nations” so diametrically opposed to each other that they just can’t find a way to get along. Being of Scottish, Irish and French descent, I’ve always known that my Scots/Irish ancestors were a wild bunch, but, heavens to betsy, they sure have made a mess throughout history in the U.S. Between ethnic tensions, religion, racial discrimination and greed, it’s hard to see how U.S. citizens can untangle themselves from the knotted skein that is throttling them.

I listened to this book almost non-stop and was very sorry when it came to an end. The narrator could have read a little slower as there was so much I wanted to savor. I will listen to it again very soon.

Decidedly Average

Interesting take on the nations that make up America and the coalitions that have gotten us to where we are, though performance was rather pedestrian and conclusions often convoluted rather than concise.

A wonderful new paradigm for American history

This is a book every American needs to read to better understand the United States. Mr. Woodard gives a compelling new history of the North American continent through these "American nations" and provides a cogent unifying theory for the many threads of American history. my one complaint is that Woodard arguably fails to give African-Americans proper billing as a distinct American nation. but overall this is my favorite new volume on the United States' history and political direction.

Very interesting

Really facinating book about the cultural differences that started with early immigrants and continues today in our political system.

Important thesis, personally demonstrated

The thesis that America is composed of 9 actual nations is extremely important and makes so much of our history finally make sense. I recommend it for that. The cultures of these sub nations are remarkably persistent over the centuries. They hold amazing power over their inhabitants.
Unfortunately Woodward then demonstrates his own channeled thinking by repeating negative stereotypes of southerners and grotesquely misrepresenting modern events in a way that showcases his own political biases.

In the epilogue he breathlessly relates a utopia being created by Native American tribes along collectivist ideals, where there is no private property, environmental preservation and anti corporate policies is the norm and this is all overseen by women leaders because unlike men they will put the good of the tribe first.

In an unintended way he beautifully provides a first person example of just how rigidly any of 9 national cultures can control and perpetuate false belief systems.

And no, I really don’t think every southerner hates science, wants to reinstate creationism, eliminate all but religious schools, cut taxes on the rich, raise them on the poor and do this all before 5pm when the go to their white supremacy meetings.

Incredible

A history of North America that will help anyone understand the diversity of peoples and ideologies on the continent. A map of where we have been and ideas about the way forward.

Wow!

This is really a brilliant take on the history of the United States and the impact that competing ways of thinking have impacted not only the creation of the United States, but still evoke conflict through out the United States today. This should be required reading for anyone who is confused by the contradictions that make up the experience of living in America today.

Book gets better and better as it progresses .

Very well researched. Gets you to realize the U.S. didn't get to this point very easily.

Slantee

I enjoyed the book. The last few chapters left me feeling the narrative was very liberal slanted. It was a turn off for me.

Interesting, though a lot to wade through

Much of what I heard I had known and much I had not. I found the book interesting and well written, as well as well narrated. Yet, a wealth of information comes so fast and the book moves from one culture to another to another, etc., rather quickly, that I found much went in one ear (I use a Bluetooth, so in only one ear) and out the other without stopping to give me time absorb it. Had I to do it again, I would buy the tangible book, where I assume one would have maps and be able to reread pages (it's not as effective as rewinding the audio, though I did this many times).
I read one review which complained that the book reflected a bias against America or something to that effect. Certainly, the book would not knowingly be used in the suggested "patriotic American history" curriculum that has recently been proposed. There are criticisms of all cultures, some quite severe. Yet, based on the knowledge I took to the book, the unpleasant facts did not seem exaggerated.