
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
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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Topical and Fantastic Read / Listen
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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.
Great Information With A Birdseye View, Nauseating Narration
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Informative & Easy to Digest
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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.
A sincere, succinct, and compelling diagnosis
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Dense book, informative and thought-provoking
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Great Analysis while Maintaining Objectivity
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Focused, Well-Researched, Enlightening
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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.
Redemption is possible
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Essential Reading
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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
Reversion to Political Tribes - current analysis
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