White Rural Rage

The Threat to American Democracy

By: Tom Schaller, Paul Waldman

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A searing portrait and damning takedown of America’s proudest citizens—who are also the least likely to defend its core principles

“This is an important book that ought to be read by anyone who wants to understand politics in the perilous Age of Trump.”—David Corn, New York Times bestselling author of American Psychosis

White rural voters hold the greatest electoral sway of any demographic group in the United States, yet rural communities suffer from poor healthcare access, failing infrastructure, and severe manufacturing and farming job losses. Rural voters believe our nation has betrayed them, and to some degree, they’re right. In White Rural Rage, Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman explore why rural Whites have failed to reap the benefits from their outsize political power and why, as a result, they are the most likely group to abandon democratic norms and traditions. Their rage—stoked daily by Republican politicians and the conservative media—now poses an existential threat to the United States.

Schaller and Waldman show how vulnerable U.S. democracy has become to rural Whites who, despite legitimate grievances, are increasingly inclined to hold racist and xenophobic beliefs, to believe in conspiracy theories, to accept violence as a legitimate course of political action, and to exhibit antidemocratic tendencies. Rural White Americans’ attitude might best be described as “I love my country, but not our country,” Schaller and Waldman argue. This phenomenon is the patriot paradox of rural America: The citizens who take such pride in their patriotism are also the least likely to defend core American principles. And by stoking rural Whites’ anger rather than addressing the hard problems they face, conservative politicians and talking heads create a feedback loop of resentments that are undermining American democracy.

Schaller and Waldman provocatively critique both the structures that permit rural Whites’ disproportionate influence over American governance and the prospects for creating a pluralist, inclusive democracy that delivers policy solutions that benefit rural communities. They conclude with a political reimagining that offers a better future for both rural people and the rest of America.

©2024 Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman (P)2024 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Someone write a new elegy for the bilious hillbilly, because these authors went for his jugular . . . Next to their characterizations, ‘basket of deplorables’ sounds almost quaint, and many readers may find guilty satisfaction in that.”—The Washington Post

“[Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman] persuasively argue that most of the negative stereotypes liberals hold about rural Americans are actually true. They do not mince words about what this means for the future of democracy in America. . . . And Schaller and Waldman bring receipts.”—The Daily Beast

“America’s seemingly most patriotic citizens—rural Americans—are losing their faith in democracy because both the Democratic and Republican parties have long ignored their needs. This important book argues that the survival of our democracy depends on our willingness to strengthen the heartland economically, rather than exploit its fears.”—Barbara F. Walter, New York Times bestselling author of How Civil Wars Start

Good explanation of what is going on in MAGA.

Honest look at MAGA and rural provincialism, lack of honesty with themselves about their situation

finally some reality

they don't go far enough. it seems they are willing to give a benefit of a doubt about the behavior they spend the book discribing.

Lots to address

Good book to start a conversation. A lot of thoughts and reactions that may challenge the authors', but it's a solid starting point. put on your critical thinking caps, and get ready to learn, consider, and question.

Independent movement is needed

My town was mentioned and my town is only 49% registered republican. So instead of discussing coalitions that could change the local politics, insulting the character of the community was more important. Uncontested general elections is the problem and the Democratic Party isn’t the solution. Red county in a blue state with closed primaries is the cause of many horrendous politicians or vice versa. Local primaries are won with single digit support of eligible voters. Fix the system instead of insulting communities.

incredible deep-dig into how our politics is split.

Amazing book. The power that rural voters have, but with no policy direction, allows them to be used by politicians in a breathtakingly cynical way. the GOP doesn't have to give them anything: upgrading infrastructure, improved schools, more access to healthcare, and they vote harder and harder for them. A political party would love to have this sort of base. Incredibly supportive, but asks for zero policies.

Very enlightening!

I like how he breaks down each issue separately as opposed to lumping everything together as he discusses the subject matter.

A lot of good information

I would probably rate this a little lower because it doesn’t cover solutions and at times seems to have a cynical tone. The tone thing might be due to the narrator’s choices for how to read certain sections. But I rated it 4 stars because it is well researched and does contain a lot of important information on the origins of our current political struggles in the US.

Offers solutions

Authors respectfully point out that rural Americans are exploited by rich republicans for corporate benefit and need to stand up as a group to demand help. Loved chapter on trucks, love my 8 ft bed , loath pretty boy trucks

Candid overview

As someone who works in rural policy I enjoyed this book. However I disagree with the authors notes on definition of rural as a schemes.

Tecumseh spoke to the Osages. (killers of the flower moon)

awesome book. review Tecumseh's speech and there ya go! let's do better please??
the pickup truck chapter was my favorite and worth the price alone!