God Save Texas

A Journey into the Soul of the Lone Star State

By: Lawrence Wright

Narrated by: Lawrence Wright

A New York Times Notable Book

National Book Critics Circle Award Finalist

An NPR Best Book of the Year

God Save Texas is a journey through the most controversial state in America. It is a red state, but the cities are blue and among the most diverse in the nation. Oil is still king, but Texas now leads California in technology exports. Low taxes and minimal regulation have produced extraordinary growth, but also striking income disparities. Texas looks a lot like the America that Donald Trump wants to create.

Bringing together the historical and the contemporary, the political and the personal, Texas native Lawrence Wright gives us a colorful, wide-ranging portrait of a state that not only reflects our country as it is, but as it may become - and reveals how the battle for Texas’s soul encompasses us all.

©2018 Lawrence Wright (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Superb.... [Wright's] most personal work yet, an elegant mixture of autobiography and long-form journalism, remarkably free of elitist bias on the one hand, and pithy guidebook pronouncements on the other." (David Oshinsky, The New York Times Book Review)

“A love letter to a place.... Wright writes about Texas with the fervor, knowledge, and ambivalence that comes from deep-seated familiarity.” (Willard Spiegelman, The Wall Street Journal)

“After tackling 9/11 and Scientology, journalist Lawrence Wright wrangles his toughest subject yet: home, the Lone Star State. With a balance of deep reporting and memoir, the New Yorker staff writer offers a personal history of Texas, a place both singular and the bellwether of American politics and morality. It’s a different approach, and one that Wright nails.” (GQ)

This book could've been great!

I like Lawrence Wright. I thought his book "Thirteen Days In September: Carter, Begin and Sadat at Camp David" was great!

This book starts out great. When he's talking about the history and stories of Texas, Wright's writing is awesome.

Unfortunately, he then gets into politics. Lawrence Wright may have been friends with the Bush family for years, but he's a Texas liberal, which means once he starts talking politics his righteous indignation just won't let him shut up. He knows better, and like most liberals, he just can't stop telling you so!

Texas is a solid republican state, and has been for years. Lawrence Wright hates that fact and he's got a thousand bad things to say about republicans. Blah, blah, blah. After awhile he starts to sound like the teacher on Charlie Brown.

Short stories, not a novel

Well-told and interesting stories, but I could find no central theme or plot. All the way through I kept wondering what does this chapter have to do with anything that came before. Considered quitting but kept hoping it would all be tied together at the end. It wasn’t.

eye opening view of texas

wish every state had its own version of this story, we'd understand each other better

Loved the book

I live in Texas but was raised in CA. I thought this book did a great job of capturing Texas culture.

A Liberal Explains Texas

Although this man claims Texas; it's hard to feel that he appreciates the State or State of mind of true Texans. His disdain for all things conservative bleeds through while complimenting Texas. His comments seem left handed. I really think he would appreciate Chicago more.

Interesting Book

Being a native Texan, I found God Save Texas to be very interesting; even though, I was pretty much aware of most of its contents. For others who may not know Texas, they may get a view that Texas and Texans are very liberal. The book has a very liberal tone. In reality, Texas is not best understood by knowing Austin. Most of Texas is very conservative. Nonetheless, a very good book.

A great read on a great state

As TX goes, so goes the country. It’s apt. I’ve recently spent a lot of time in TX for work and this book is an apt outline to brings to life much of what you see. Blue dots in a red state, real diversity mixed with fear of change, religious zeal and still a love for thy neighbor. Politeness and conceal carry. It’s all here and very well written. I recommend the read if you have any interest in, association with or a potential association with the state of TX. It’s a great foundational listen!

Tried and true Texas

Five years now since its publication, God Save Texas remains a seminal work for anyone seeking to understand the heart and soul of the Lone Star State.

I was born and raised here, yet this book greatly expanded my understanding of my home state and, indeed, of my own psyche.

Wright brings forth an oft overlooked dimension of Texas life, culture and politics which is greatly misunderstood. Why? Because so many charlatans (especially of the political variety) are permitted to perpetuate the old stereotypes. God willing, we will some day rise above them on the wings of patron saints like Larry Wright.

Texas forever!

As usual, great

Great description of current political climate and causes especially the governor and the lt governor .

Finally, the secrets behind Texas!

Mr. Wright knows a lot and is able to share it in a very academic yet entertaining way. Having lived in Texas for several years, I always wondered why it seems like a tightly held little club powered by Republican white males.

That and much other from West to East and North to South in the state come under Mr. Wright's radar. He gives a balanced view both from a historical and contemporary standpoint.

If you live here, it is must reading! If you don't live here, you may want to reconsider before you move!