Our Patchwork Nation The Surprising Truth About the "Real" America

by Chinni, Dante; Gimpel, James

• ISBN13: 9781592406708
• ISBN10: 159240670X
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781101544563
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-04
• Publisher: Random House
• More Book Details

Summary

A provocative counterargument to the blue/red divide that illuminates our country's multidimensional political spectrum. In a climate of culture wars and economic uncertainty, the media have often reduced America to a simplistic schism between red and blue states. In response to that oversimplification, journalist Dante Chinni teamed up with political geographer James Gimpel, using on-the-ground reporting and statistical analysis to get past generalizations and probe American communities in depth. Looking at the data, they recognized that the country breaks into twelve distinct types of communities, whose differences and specific concerns shed light on the subtle distinctions in how Americans vote, shop, and otherwise behave. Showcasing personal interviews, combined with facts and statistics, Our Patchwork Nationoffers a brilliant new way to examine the issues that matter most to our communities, and to our nation.

Author Biography

Dante Chinni is the correspondent for the Patchwork nation project, a collaboration among The Christian Science Monitor, PBS News Hour, and PBS member stations. He lives in Washington, D.C.
James Gimpel, Ph.D., is a professor of government at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Foreword	p. xi
Introduction To The Paperback Edition	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Boom Towns: Eagle, Colorado	p. 15
Campus And Careers: Ann Arbor, Michigan	p. 25
Emptying Nests: Clermont, Florida	p. 35
Evangelical Epicenters: Nixa, Missouri	p. 45
Immigration Nation: El Mirage, Arizona	p. 55
Industrial Metropolis: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	p. 65
Military Bastions: Hopkinsville, Kentucky	p. 75
Minority Central: Baton Rouge, Louisiana	p. 85
Monied Burbs: Los Alamos, New Mexico	p. 95
Mormon Outposts: Burley, Idaho	p. 105
Service Worker Centers: Lincoln City, Oregon	p. 115
Tractor Country: Sioux Center, Iowa	p. 125
The Economy	p. 135
Politics	p. 159
Culture	p. 187
Conclusion	p. 213
Appendix	p. 219
Notes	p. 307
Index	p. 313
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