Why We're Polarized
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Narrated by:
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Ezra Klein
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By:
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Ezra Klein
About this listen
This New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller shows us that America’s political system isn’t broken. The truth is scarier: It’s working exactly as designed. In this “superbly researched” (The Washington Post) and timely book, journalist Ezra Klein reveals how that system is polarizing us - and how we are polarizing it - with disastrous results.
“The American political system - which includes everyone from voters to journalists to the president - is full of rational actors making rational decisions given the incentives they face,” writes political analyst Ezra Klein. “We are a collection of functional parts whose efforts combine into a dysfunctional whole.”
“A thoughtful, clear and persuasive analysis” (The New York Times Book Review), Why We’re Polarized reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America’s descent into division and dysfunction. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump’s rise to the Democratic Party’s leftward shift to the politicization of everyday culture.
America is polarized, first and foremost, by identity. Everyone engaged in American politics is engaged, at some level, in identity politics. Over the past 50 years in America, our partisan identities have merged with our racial, religious, geographic, ideological, and cultural identities. These merged identities have attained a weight that is breaking much in our politics and tearing at the bonds that hold this country together.
Klein shows how and why American politics polarized around identity in the 20th century and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and one another. And he traces the feedback loops between polarized political identities and polarized political institutions that are driving our system toward crisis.
“Well worth reading” (New York magazine), this is an “eye-opening” (O, The Oprah Magazine) book that will change how you look at politics and perhaps at yourself.
©2020 Ezra Klein (P)2020 Simon & Schuster AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Democracy in One Book or Less
- How It Works, Why It Doesn’t, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think
- By: David Litt
- Narrated by: David Litt
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Bill Bryson meets Thomas Frank in this deeply insightful, unexpectedly hilarious story of how politicians hijacked American democracy and how we can take it back.
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Thanks Litt.
- By Andy on 10-06-20
By: David Litt
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The Conscience of a Liberal
- By: Paul Krugman
- Narrated by: Jason Culp
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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America emerged from Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal with strong democratic values and broadly shared prosperity. But for the past 30 years, American politics has been dominated by a conservative movement determined to undermine the New Deal's achievements. Now, the tide may be turning, and in The Conscience of a Liberal Paul Krugman, the world's most widely read economist and one of its most influential political commentators, charts the way to reform.
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Great Book!!!
- By carl801 on 12-04-07
By: Paul Krugman
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The Impostors
- How Republicans Quit Governing and Seized American Politics
- By: Steve Benen
- Narrated by: Ron Butler
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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The award-winning producer of The Rachel Maddow Show exposes the Republican Party as a gang of impostors, meticulously documenting how they have abandoned their duty to govern and are gravely endangering America.
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Three Card Monte Politics
- By J.B. on 06-19-20
By: Steve Benen
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Resistance
- How Women Saved Democracy from Donald Trump
- By: Jennifer Rubin
- Narrated by: Hillary Huber
- Length: 13 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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In the tradition of Shattered and Game Change, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin provides an insider’s look at how women across the political spectrum carried a revolution to the ballot box and defeated Donald Trump, based on interviews with key figures such as Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Stacey Abrams, Nancy Pelosi, and many more.
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An excellent book
- By Gary on 02-02-22
By: Jennifer Rubin
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The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America
- The Thom Hartmann Hidden History Series
- By: Thom Hartmann
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 4 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Taking his typically in-depth, historically informed view, Thom Hartmann asks: What if the Supreme Court didn't have the power to strike down laws? According to the Constitution, it doesn't. From the founding of the republic until 1803, the Supreme Court was the final court of appeals, as it was always meant to be. So where did the concept of judicial review start? As so much of modern American history, it began with the battle between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists, and with Marbury v. Madison.
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A must read to understand why voting is essential.
- By Brandon WIlliams on 10-05-19
By: Thom Hartmann
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Rule and Ruin
- The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, from Eisenhower to the Tea Party
- By: Geoffrey Kabaservice
- Narrated by: Michael Bulter Murray
- Length: 21 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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The chaotic events leading up to Mitt Romney's defeat in the 2012 election indicated how far the Republican Party had rocketed rightward away from the center of public opinion. Republicans in Congress threatened to shut down the government and force a U.S. debt default. Tea Party activists mounted primary challenges against Republican officeholders who appeared to exhibit too much pragmatism or independence. Moderation and compromise were dirty words in the Republican presidential debates. The GOP, it seemed, had suddenly become a party of ideological purity. Except this development is not new at all.
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Kabaservice doesn't make the case
- By MJE on 01-22-16
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The Age of Entitlement
- America Since the Sixties
- By: Christopher Caldwell
- Narrated by: Christopher Caldwell
- Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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A major American intellectual makes the historical case that the reforms of the 1960s, reforms intended to make the nation more just and humane, instead left many Americans feeling alienated, despised, misled - and ready to put an adventurer in the White House. Christopher Caldwell has spent years studying the liberal uprising of the 1960s and its unforeseen consequences. Even the reforms that Americans love best have come with costs that are staggeringly high - in wealth, freedom, and social stability - and that have been spread unevenly among classes and generations.
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Do laudable ends justify unconstitutional means?
- By LBJ on 02-08-20
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Kill Switch
- The Rise of the Modern Senate and the Crippling of American Democracy
- By: Adam Jentleson
- Narrated by: P.J. Ochlan
- Length: 9 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
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Every major decision governing our diverse, majority-female, and increasingly liberal country bears the stamp of the US Senate, yet the Senate allows an almost exclusively White, predominantly male, and radically conservative minority of the American electorate to impose its will on the rest of us. How did we get to this point? In Kill Switch, Adam Jentleson argues that shifting demographics alone cannot explain how Mitch McConnell harnessed the Senate and turned it into a powerful weapon of minority rule.
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Don't bother, narration intolerable!
- By Joseph on 03-08-21
By: Adam Jentleson
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Our Divided Political Heart
- The Battle for the American Idea in an Age of Discontent
- By: E. J. Dionne
- Narrated by: Michael Kramer
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
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Our Divided Political Heart will be the must-listen book of the 2012 election campaign. Offering an incisive analysis of how hyper-individualism is poisoning the nation's political atmosphere, E. J. Dionne Jr., argues that Americans can't agree on who we are because we can't agree on who we've been, or what it is, philosophically and spiritually, that makes us Americans.
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Good points and lots of good information
- By Jamie B on 08-15-12
By: E. J. Dionne
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The Hardest Job in the World
- The American Presidency
- By: John Dickerson
- Narrated by: John Dickerson
- Length: 15 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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The American presidency is in trouble. It has become overburdened, misunderstood, almost impossible to do. “The problems in the job unfolded before Donald Trump was elected, and the challenges of governing today will confront his successors”, writes John Dickerson. After all, the founders never intended for our system of checks and balances to have one superior Chief Magistrate, with Congress demoted to “the little brother who can’t keep up”.
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Couldn’t wait for this book!
- By David H. Lawrence XVII on 06-17-20
By: John Dickerson
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Poignant, relevant
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Fantastically motivating and informative book
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Had much higher hopes
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Poignant, relevant
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Be a Revolution
- How Everyday People Are Fighting Oppression and Changing the World—and How You Can, Too
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Lady Justice
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In Lady Justice, Dahlia Lithwick, one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators, illuminates these many heroes of the Trump years. From Sally Yates and Becca Heller, who fought the Muslim travel ban, to Roberta Kaplan, who sued the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville, to Stacey Abrams, who worked to protect the voting rights of millions of Georgians, Lithwick dramatizes in thrilling detail the women lawyers who worked tirelessly to hold the line against the most chaotic presidency in living memory.
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Beautiful
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The Next Civil War
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On a small two-lane bridge in a rural county that loathes the federal government, the US Army uses lethal force to end a standoff with hard-right anti-government patriots. Inside an ordinary diner, a disaffected young man with a handgun takes aim at the American president stepping in for an impromptu photo-op, and a bullet splits the hyper-partisan country into violently opposed mourners and revelers.
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Definitely has a lean to the left.
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Viral Justice
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Long before the pandemic, Ruha Benjamin was doing groundbreaking research on race, technology, and justice, focusing on big, structural changes. But the twin plagues of COVID-19 and anti-Black police violence inspired her to rethink the importance of small, individual actions. Part memoir, part manifesto, Viral Justice is a sweeping and deeply personal exploration of how we can transform society through the choices we make every day.
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Fantastic book!
- By Avie Kearney on 05-21-23
By: Ruha Benjamin
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Elite Capture
- How the Powerful Took Over Identity Politics (and Everything Else)
- By: Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
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“Identity politics” is everywhere, polarizing discourse from the campaign trail to the classroom. But the “identity politics” so compulsively referenced bears little resemblance to the concept as first introduced by the radical Black feminist Combahee River Collective. While the Collective articulated a political viewpoint grounded in their own position as Black lesbians with the explicit aim of building solidarity across lines of difference, “identity politics” is now frequently weaponized as a means of closing ranks around ever-narrower conceptions of group interests.
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An Essential Read
- By TheFrozenBiscuit on 04-22-23
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Good and Mad
- How Women's Anger Is Reshaping America
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In the year 2018, it seems as if women’s anger has suddenly erupted into the public conversation. But long before this, women’s anger was not only politically catalytic - but politically problematic. With eloquence and fervor, Rebecca tracks the history of female anger as political fuel - from suffragettes chaining themselves to the White House to office workers vacating their buildings after Clarence Thomas was confirmed to the Supreme Court. She deconstructs society’s (and the media’s) condemnation of female emotion (notably, rage) and the impact of resulting repercussions.
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The perfect book for October 2018.
- By Kate Willette on 10-03-18
By: Rebecca Traister
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It's OK to Be Angry About Capitalism
- By: Senator Bernie Sanders, John Nichols
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It’s OK to be angry about capitalism. Reflecting on our turbulent times, Senator Bernie Sanders takes on the billionaire class and speaks blunt truths about our country’s failure to address the destructive nature of a system that is fueled by uncontrolled greed and rigidly committed to prioritizing corporate profits over the needs of ordinary Americans.
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A true and unbiased understanding of politics today
- By Sassy monster on 02-21-23
By: Senator Bernie Sanders, and others
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Origin Story
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- By: David Christian
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Most historians study the smallest slivers of time, emphasizing specific dates, individuals, and documents. But what would it look like to study the whole of history, from the big bang through the present day - and even into the remote future? How would looking at the full span of time change the way we perceive the universe, the earth, and our very existence? These were the questions David Christian set out to answer when he created the field of "Big History", the most exciting new approach to understanding where we have been, where we are, and where we are going.
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A brilliant achievement, must read/listen
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The Feminist Killjoy Handbook
- The Radical Potential of Getting in the Way
- By: Sara Ahmed
- Narrated by: Sara Ahmed
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Do you refuse to laugh at offensive jokes? Have you ever been accused of ruining dinner by pointing out your companion’s sexist comment? Are you often told to stop being so “woke”? If so, you might be a feminist killjoy—and this handbook is for you. In this book, feminist theorist Sara Ahmed shows how killing joy can be a radical world-making project. Presenting sharp analysis of literature, film, and influential feminist works, and drawing on her own experiences as a queer feminist scholar-activist of color, Ahmed reveals the invaluable lessons of the feminist killjoy.
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Killing joy for a better tomorrow
- By marceleen mosher on 03-22-24
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Entitled
- How Male Privilege Hurts Women
- By: Kate Manne
- Narrated by: Cynthia Farrell
- Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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In this bold and stylish critique, Cornell philosopher Kate Manne offers a radical new framework for understanding misogyny. Ranging widely across the culture, from Harvey Weinstein and the Brett Kavanaugh hearings to “Cat Person” and the political misfortunes of Elizabeth Warren, Manne’s book shows how privileged men’s sense of entitlement - to sex, yes, but more insidiously to admiration, care, bodily autonomy, knowledge, and power - is a pervasive social problem with often devastating consequences.
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New to the subject
- By Bruno on 08-20-20
By: Kate Manne
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1944
- FDR and the Year That Changed History
- By: Jay Winik
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 21 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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New York Times best-selling author Jay Winik brings to life in gripping detail the year 1944, which determined the outcome of World War II and put more pressure than any other on an ailing yet determined President Roosevelt.
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Stimulating
- By Jean on 11-14-15
By: Jay Winik
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The Great Upheaval
- America and the Birth of the Modern World, 1788-1800
- By: Jay Winik
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 31 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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It is an era that redefined history. As the 1790s began, a fragile America teetered on the brink of oblivion, Russia towered as a vast imperial power, and France plunged into revolution. But in contrast to the way conventional histories tell it, none of these remarkable events occurred in isolation.
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I was crazy addicted to this book.
- By Daniel R McCloy on 12-06-17
By: Jay Winik
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Identity Crisis
- The 2016 Presidential Campaign and the Battle for the Meaning of America
- By: John Sides, Michael Tesler, Lynn Vavreck
- Narrated by: Paul Heitsch
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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Identity Crisis takes listeners from the bruising primaries to an election night whose outcome defied the predictions of the pollsters and pundits. The book shows how fundamental characteristics of the nation and its politics - the state of the economy, the Obama presidency, and the demographics of the political parties - combined with the candidates' personalities and rhetoric to produce one of the most unexpected presidencies in history.
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Fascinating Look at American attitudes
- By EC on 12-19-18
By: John Sides, and others
What listeners say about Why We're Polarized
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Walt C.
- 02-14-21
Topical and Fantastic Read / Listen
The primary reflection I have now, having just finished this audio book is it was as if this was a one on one conversation I had with Ezra. While a subtle thing, but still a thing, it wasn't like the speaker was talking at me, rather, the author speaking to me. The flow of the book was logical, flowed with observation N having relevance to N-1. The flow and thesis made complete sense. It was neither partisan nor a hit job. Well done Mr Klein!
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- Mr. Boots Electric
- 03-20-20
Great Information With A Birdseye View, Nauseating Narration
This is a very good book as far as the information goes the near ration is terrible though because he constantly giggles in a sort of immature space mug fashion. I think that is because he views himself as needing to appear more feminine to fit in with his peer group. He seems to underplay his own identity while overplaying women’s which I find rather spineless since he belongs to a minority himself. Being an ally foremost makes you essentially a tool. There’s actually a good bit of a antisemitism going on these days but since he’s a “white male” not even a “white man” he’s got to say his mea culpas. He also didn’t mention white women’s privilege with that. Everyone on the board of trustees at Huff Post is one. There’s a great book on this called “White Women’s Rights” written in 1999 so before all this.
He’s a self described brainiac so I think despite sounding like a 15 year old with his inflections he’s incredibly sharp and actually rather unbiased for the most part. A lot of this I’ve noticed stems from the need to conform ideologically in school and be agreeable. We can’t get to the real meaty truth is we keep kow-towing to people in charge and their sacred cows.
Another thing I’d like to mention is that I tried to convince a conservative friend to read this book in a book swap which was futile. If more people talk like this which no one really likes it’ll become harder.
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- goodnitesaigon
- 08-05-20
Informative & Easy to Digest
I expected nothing less than a clear, concise message from Ezra Klein. His writing is thoughtful, open, and willing to explore conversations we have not had as a community. I highly recommend this book as it is easy to read/listen and honest about personal perspectives and biases.
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- Robert Guth
- 02-03-20
A sincere, succinct, and compelling diagnosis
Many have tackled some form of this topic, but Ezra Klein does a stellar job of synthesizing a bewildering background of relevant research and observation into a straightforward and succinct story of where we are as a polarized nation, how we got here, and what it really means for our future.
The writing is engaging enough on its own, but hearing the author’s own voice on the audiobook lends a sense of honesty and humor that I think makes the audiobook better than the book.
If your looking at this review, then I recommend you just go ahead and get the book. It was certainly worth my time, and if the topic appeals I suspect it’s worth your time too.
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- dupuytren
- 02-23-20
Dense book, informative and thought-provoking
I am no stranger to Ezra's work. I was thinking that most of the arguments here would sound familiar to me since I listen to his podcast every time it comes out and follow many sections of vox.com. Though the book seems to require a lot of attention especially to the nunbers, statistics and data, it was an overall enjoyable listen and make me think that things are not that hopeless if we make a collective effort. Another main take home message is the fact that being more polarized today does not mean a step backwards compared to what America was as a society just a couple of decades ago. Even though the inequalities, the divisions and misunderstandings that underlie it still persist in the ecosystem, we have undoubtedly made considerable advances and have become a better version of ourselves with time. It requires hard work and investing time and energy, but I hope we will not give up towards a Union that works for -maybe one day- everyone.
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- Robert Marcotte
- 08-29-20
Great Analysis while Maintaining Objectivity
This book helps the audience understand all the many factors that contribute to our current political climate. Interesting, Nuanced, Straightforward. Would recommend
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- Anonymous User
- 10-22-20
Focused, Well-Researched, Enlightening
Ezra Klein does a great job providing a mix of historical context, psychological research, and political theory to illuminate why we're polarized. he's also very succinct and a clear writer. love this book
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- Kristin J. Currier
- 11-24-21
Redemption is possible
if you've ever struggled to understand or talk to friends, family or coworkers over matters of politics, regardless of party, then start here. Understanding the incentives beneath what appears to be a broken system that seems to leave the vast majority of moderate Americans out of the picture will help us to - at the very least, not hate each other. It could even help us understand our own motivations and become more calmly aware of our predisposition to align ourselves into factions of identity that benefit our own group, but deny other groups.
Written by an admittedly liberal, vegan Californian, this is not a liberal book. it's a reasoned take o. our system today and offers creative ideas to remedy it in such a way that the greatest swath of American people would benefit, and perhaps release our elected officials from a mechanism that only encourages division and the perception that government does not work for normal people.
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- Shawn Clerkin
- 07-02-22
Essential Reading
Klein insightfully presents both the foundations of and the current situation of cultural polarization in the United States. The social and cultural forces which are embedded in our particular democracy present both a powerful form of mutual responsibility and, as we see today, ideologically aligned divisions. This book reminds us of the vulnerability of our nation as well as our true potential if we can keep ourselves out if the mire of structural binary opposition. A quick, entertaining, and, ultimately, inspiring text.
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- Carl A. Gallozzi
- 02-17-20
Reversion to Political Tribes - current analysis
Very readable/listenable book - complete with numerous Sociological Study references backing up - this point or that point. His point is that the 'political amity' of the mid 20th Century America was an anomaly - and that 'the four parties' (Democrats, DixieCrats, Conservative Republicans and Liberal Republicans) - have now 'sorted themselves out' - leading to a sorted set of parties vigorously opposing each other in a political holy war.
One key thought I'm still processing is the thread (espoused by the Author as well as Jill LePore in "These Truths" - that after the fall of the Soviet Union (1991)- the United States needed an 'enemy' - and a Domestic Cold War broke out - between the Democrats and Republicans (Gingrich assumes the Speakership of the House in 1994) - and then starts the "holy war" between the parties which begins the slash-and-burn mentality.
The Republicans have an advantage because they have one special interest group - older whiter Christians. The Democrats have 'n' special interest groups - who live on a political spectrum - and need to 'balance out' their support of the different groups.
Several other points to ponder:
The U.S. Culture represents a time and market approximately 10 years into the future. This time and market is multi-racial and young. Nike markets to the young uses Colin Kapernick.
The U.S. Political Power represents a time approximately 10 years ago - demonstrated by the Republicans holding power supported by older, whiter Christian Americans who feel "their world" under threat. This is Trump's Base.
The Economic Models represent a time about 40-50 years ago. 50 year ago Milton Friedman funded by the then Koch Brothers invented a model to reduce taxes and 'starve' the New Deal. Arthur Laffer took this idea and generated a tax model used by Reagan/Thatcher in the 1980's cutting taxes on the wealthy - with the goal of having these taxes pay for themselves. These tax cuts didn't pay for themselves - generating deficits - also income/wealth inequality became an issue.
Each of the above are on different time cycles and impact cycles.
Cable TV and the news media contributes to this polarization - due to their Business Models - clicks and revenues favoring the most outrages talking points and rebuttals.
The ground rules for today's current set of politicians: Get Elected; Get the Majority; Enact policies favorable to your base.
Book begins with an 'even/balanced tone' - later more of his biases present themselves.
His suggestions for solutions are 'okay' - a variant of getting more centrist candidates elected with the idea of politicians running and governing "from the Center" - similar suggestions made by Michael Porter - American Competitiveness Institute - about an end to GerryMandering (through an independent Commission) - having one, open primary - where the people who get the most votes go on to the general election (could be two republicans/two democrats).
Finally, I didn't hear Ezra Klein "provide a lot of hope" on how this problem would be solved. I heard him say - that the Demographic changes over time 20-24 years could "Turn Texas Blue" - and move the election - [solution through Demographics] but otherwise not a great deal of hope on a solution to this matter. I heard that the current Polarization could be the 'base case' for many years into the future. I'm not sure what this will bode for the U.S. in its Great Power Competition with China, Russia and others.
A very interesting book - some key thoughts and analysis on our reversion to Political Tribes.
A stray thought as I read about the rise of China and the endangerment of the American Empire - is this Polarization associated with the decline of an Empire?
Political junkies would like this book.
Carl Gallozzi
cgallozzi@comcast.net
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