White Rural Rage

The Threat to American Democracy

By: Tom Schaller, Paul Waldman

Narrated by: Ray Porter

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

finally some reality

they don't go far enough. it seems they are willing to give a benefit of a doubt about the behavior they spend the book discribing.

Insightful!

A must read if you want to better understand the current state of affairs dividing our country.

Solid and persuasive content, but the condescending tone of the narrator detracted from the message.

I should have read it rather than listening to this book. The narrator was professional, but spoke in a tone that seemed very condescending. I found the content interesting and persuasive, but the delivery made me uncomfortable. I worry that the content will be less persuasive to someone who is otherwise open to consideration of the content.

Puts Republican Support for the Electoral College in Perspective.

I've talked to a lot of conservatives, many of them family members, and the breadth of support for authoritarianism is astounding. As a former conservative who lives in Louisville, KY, the racism I've personally witnessed since 2020, especially after LMPD killed Breonna Taylor and Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd, sent me running from conservatism and the Republican party. White conservatives, not just rural white conservatives, are so afraid of losing their privileged status they are willing to forego Democracy just to keep that privilege. Rather than adapt to our country's changing demographics they want a "strongman" leader who will guarantee their white privilege. Funny that they seem afraid to be in a minority group, it's almost like they know how the white majority has treated minorities groups in the past and they don't want it to happen to them.

This book lays out that whole narrative and it comes with the receipts. A must read for conservatives who worry about the MAGA cult and why they don't recognize so many people who they once aligned with.

Fair and balanced

I appreciated that the book is not an attack or demonization against rural YT America but in a depth analysis. There is also an off ramp people can choose before it is too late for American Democracy.

White Rage

Described are people who live in rural areas of the United States and who have become resentful because they can’t get ahead due to the GOP lies. They continue to vote for GOP reps even though the GOP hasn’t helped their constituents by improving their lives. There is a need to educate these voters as to who can improve their lives so they don’t continue to vote against their best interests.

An Important Book, ALL Americans Should Read

This book tells a story of a 'classification' of a portion of the United States that is highly influential, yet not very well understood; and very angry. This book tells why. I know this book has been controversial, but I think it makes great sense. I feel the authors did much good work to put this together. It needs more public attention.

Finally Don’t Make Excuses For Anti-Democracy Rural Voters

This was a a refreshing read. It correctly demonstrates that the majority of rural voters are irrationally unreachable to politicians who actually are willing to help them. By electing hard right Republicans they let big business destroy their communities and then blame the liberal Democratic politicians who most oppose the dominance of big business in their communities . If they keep electing these types of Republicans it will continue to get worse.

Lots to address

Good book to start a conversation. A lot of thoughts and reactions that may challenge the authors', but it's a solid starting point. put on your critical thinking caps, and get ready to learn, consider, and question.

Fantastic

Exposes the pure hypocrisy of the MAGA GOP and how it is destroying America. The potential they have, wasted.