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

Insightful

I've been attempting to understand why Republicans continue to back representatives who seemingly make no substantial contributions to their well-being. This has brought me closer to grasping the situation. However, I'm concerned that many are so entrenched in their positions that altering our current trajectory might be nearly impossible.

Racist white people vote against own issues to spite brown and black people

A really good discussion on the topic of rural America being manipulated using racism to vote against own interests and receiving even more political power for doing so

A must read !!!

What a phantastic book.
I wished everybody would listen/read this one to understand how much is at stake and how brainwashed people are.
Sadly I know so many of the people that should read this to understand what would make there lives better and how mislead they really are
will never hear about this book and will never have the oportunity to find there way out of this vicious cicle of downfall and lies.
Thank you to the authors Tom Schaller and Paul Waldman for writing this important book, to Random House Audio and a big thank you to Ray Porter for the fantastic narration.

Very informative

It was complicated. I actually had to buy a hard copy for reference. Not like reading a novel unfortunately.

White Rural Rage

Great book! A must have for any serious personal library. The research and data points are powerful. Hope it doesn’t get pulled off the shelf and banned!!

Understanding White Rural Rage

I appreciated the data used to support the ideas presented in the book.Also, I feel more knowledgeable about the electoral vote process and how they work in rural areas.
This book was mentioned in a Time magazine article and I recommend reading it.

They that have ears, let them hear.

Warning: does not come with liberal tears. Dry eyes, clear eyes.

The argument is strong.
They add much to the convvesation.
They do a remarkable job capturing the long exploited rural temperment.
Taking pains to qualify their statements, time & again, and offer empathy to subjects, their harshest words are nothing compared to the “own the libs“ cottage industry. I mean come on, there’s a glut of ANTI-WOKE books. Tract after tract, most written in bad faith with nonsensical arguments, ad hominen attacks, cherry picked evidence. Paging Tucker/Putin/Alex Jones.

Rural Americans do not own the market on human folly or morality. Liberals do not own the market on wisdom or deviance. Everyone feels love & hate, pride & shame, fear & wrath. You can cover your ears, disregard your fellows, sure. But for heaven’s sake, don’t deceive yourself.

A missed opportunity

The book itself has thoughtful points, but the narrator's tone is frequently so contemptuous I nearly stopped listening. It's a shame because many of the points merit reflection, but the presentation will turn off most anyone not already part of the choir to which it preaches. A more empathetic or even neutral tone would have allowed friends of moderately different leanings to read & discuss the content together--something deeply needed in these polarized times. Instead, this book, or at least this narration of the book, just pushes us further into our bubbles.

The honest truth about what a dreadful mess this country has become is spelled out in this book.

If you’re ultra maga, you will hate this book so avoid a hyper tension episode, and avoid ordering this book and order a book by Alex Jones!

Good explanation of what is going on in MAGA.

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