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American Nations: A History Of The Eleven Rival Regional Cultures Of North America (2011)

by Colin Woodard(Favorite Author)

4.1 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0670022969 (ISBN13: 9780670022960)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Viking Adult

review 1: The basic premise of the book is that a "nation" is a group of people who share a similar cultural identity and way of life, not necessarily the same thing as a country. He identifies 11 different nations in North America, and discusses the history of the United States from the perspective of these different nations. I really enjoyed this book. It sheds interesting light on the Revolutionary and Civil wars, and our current politics.
review 2: A few years ago I read an essay about this book and its core thesis that the United State is really a federation of at least eleven different, distinct national groups. I found it intriguing at the time. Then, my friend Tom Saylor read the book and recommended it to a bunch of his friends. I started reading it while vis... moreiting him this week and finished it in a couple of days.Woodard argues, based upon lots of different studies--ethnic background, dialect and word use, voting patterns, etc.--for eleven primary nations that have dominated life in the United States. He then narrates American history as the clash and occasional alliances of these different groups, with the primary contest between Yankeedom and the Deep South.There is much that is interesting in this book and the general thesis is pretty convincing, though, as with any big thesis, it strains credulity at the edges and one can think of various details that don't fit easily. But I did like the basic idea, and it convinces you why it is so damned difficult to define what it means to be an "American" because it means wildly different things to different groups. I also especially liked reading his take on various aspects of American history, which basically become wars and rebellions between the various competing nations within our international federation.I have always thought America was unique in that we didn't have much in the way of clashing nationalisms/tribalisms within the country. This book shows that my view was naive and that we do.I recommend this for history buffs, politics buffs, and those better wanting to understand the region they come from (or currently live in). less

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Reviews (see all)

melli

As a history buff I loved this book. Every page has something new to teach, giving insightful perspectives to our country. I found myself saying “oh that’s why they did that, or that’s why that happen like that” It explains so much every American should read it. It’s not a dry history book but a real page turner; I couldn’t put it down once I started, better than most novels. It makes one ask if the area you grew up in fits with his map, and also do you fit the type from that “nation”. I answered yes to both, I now realize that I’m a “midlander”.

suni

This book presents a theory that there are eleven distinct regional cultures in the North American continent, and makes a compelling case for its premise. Certainly, considering the history of western culture in North America and the current political climate via this lens makes a great deal of sense. Interactions with the native cultures, natures of various regional ideologies, and the spread of certain pockets of immigrants throughout the last four hundred years are examined from this perspective, and the journey is a very interesting and worthwhile one. Recommended.

icecream

1st 2/3 - interesting, final 1/3 = liberal propaganda

rajendran

Highly recommended!

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