20th book of 2024 complete:

American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by @WoodardColin

One of the best books on American history I’ve ever read. The descriptions of distinct nations and how they fought and shaped the continent was enlightening.

But Woodard, like most historians, goes off track the closer he gets to the present. His own “Yankeedom” ideals rear their head as he assumes that Progressive ideas, higher taxes, state run education, and climate change policies among others are the correct positions.

His description of cutting taxes, school vouchers, and pushing back against unions are described as backwards or supporting the elites, without any consideration of the reverse policies being used to support elitism.

I’d love to see more recent events described using this rival nations thesis by someone who is more well versed in the general corruption of centralized government and understands how the Federal Reserve has drastically affected American politics.

Regardless, I would absolutely recommend this book and still believe it to be one the best American history books you could read.