American Nations
A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America

Quotes

The New Republic Editors’ Pick
The Globalist Top Books of 20112012 Maine Literary Award for Non-fiction

“Mr. Woodard’s approach is breezier than Mr. Fischer’s and more historical than Mr. Garreau’s, but [Woodard] has earned a place on the shelf between them."
— The Wall Street Journal

“[C]ompelling and informative.”
— The Washington Post

“One of the most original books I read in the last year was American Nations….During my five years as an Ambassador in the United States, I spent a lot of time studying the voting patterns of different states and reading American history, and I have to say I find Woodard’s thesis to be fully borne out by my own observations.”
— John Bruton, former European Union Ambassador to the United States

“[American Nations] sets itself apart by delving deep into history to trace our current divides to enthno-cultural differences that emerged during the country’s earliest settlement.”

“In a compelling mash-up of the contemporary political geography of authors like Joel Garreau and Dante Chinni with the ethnography and history of David Hackett Finscher (Albion’s Seed), [Colin] Woodard divides North America into eleven distinct “nations”.

— The New Republic

“[A] fascinating new ethnographic history of North America.”
— Alec MacGillis, The New Republic

“Colin Woodard debunks the simplistic notion of Left Coast, red state, blues state and other broad-brush efforts to peg America’s differences….American Nations pulls off the unlikely feat of both offering the tools for just such a broader, deeper understanding—and demonstrates why, in a larger sense, that effort is doomed….The key to the [American Nations]’s effectiveness is Woodard’s skill—and irreverence—in delving into history with no qualms about being both brisk and contrarian….[I]n offering us a way to better understand the forces at play in the rumpus room of current American politics, Colin Woodard has scored a true triumph. I am going to order copies for my father and sister immediately—and I hope Woodard gets a wide hearing for his fascinating study.”
— The Daily Beast

 “[Colin] Woodard offers a fascinating way to parse American (writ large) politics and history in this excellent book.”
— Kirkus **Starred Review**

“In American Nations, [Colin Woodard] persuasively reshapes our understanding of how the American political entity came to be….[A] fascinating new take on history.”
— Christian Science Monitor

“Provocative reading.”
— News and Observer

“Well-researched analysis with appeal to both casual and scholarly readers.”
— Library Journal

“Fascinating….Engrossing….In the end, though, [American Nations] is a smart read that feels particularly timely now, when so many would claim a mythically unified “Founding Fathers” as their political ancestors.”
— The Boston Globe

“Insightful.”
— The Portland Daily Dispatch

“[Colin] Woodard persuasively argues that since the founding of the United States, 11 distinct geographical “nations” have formed within the Union, each with its own identity and set of values.”
— Military History Quarterly

"[Colin] Woodard’s account of American history is a refreshing take, and one I’d recommend to those curious of what causes our cultural differences.”
— Montana Kaimin

“If you want to better understand U.S. politics, history, and culture American Nations is to be required reading….By revealing this continent of rivals, American Nations will revolutionize the way Americans think about their past, their country, and themselves and is sure to spark controversy.”
— The Herald Gazette

“[C]ontroversial and thought-provoking….This is an important sociological study.”
— Bill Bushnell, Morning Sentinel

“[F]or people interested in American history and sociology, American Nations demands reading….American Nations is important reading.”

— St. Louis Post-Dispatch