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

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

Polemical

Interesting amalgamation of facts, but I was expecting more analytics but tended to be more of a polemic.

insightful and a bit frightening

amazing insight into our current culture of anger and resentment. I learned alot. I definitely recommend this book.

Insightful and frightening

Great insight on this topic. A must-read for anyone who wants to keep our democracy.

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.

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.

Fantastic

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

Accurate, if we’re being honest.

I grew up in the rural Deep South and was fortunate enough to escape it. This book details hard truths but truths that, nonetheless, must be confronted by our consistently offended rural neighbors if they are to advance. Not everybody living in rural areas is an affront to intellectual progress, civilized culture and democracy, but I can attest that there are a majority that are.

The changing of eras

During the pandemic of 1917 the horse and buggy lobby was decimated, and it was easier for the automobile industry to take over.

The 2020 Pandemic disrupted the industrial and corporate work structure, it was decimated.
Add in the exponential skyrocketing growth of the Robotic and AI industries and you have a perfect
Storm brewing for militias.

A population with no hope, especially in the rural areas is a danger.
The next 8 years will tell how this plays out.