Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right
Score Modern
What it's about
Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild traveled from liberal Berkeley to the bayou country of Louisiana, a conservative stronghold, to understand the people there. She spent five years getting to know Tea Party supporters, and found common ground, and a deep story of feeling left behind, that explains much about American politics.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the National Book Award, and it became essential reading for understanding the 2016 election. It's empathetic, rigorous and fair.
You'll love it if you liked
The Coddling of the American Mind, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City or The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
Good to know
It's written by a liberal trying to understand conservatives, and it respects both. It's richly reported, with many personal stories.
Quick answers
Is Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the National Book Award, and it became essential reading for understanding the 2016 election. It ranks #957 of the 2,819 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right about?
Sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild traveled from liberal Berkeley to the bayou country of Louisiana, a conservative stronghold, to understand the people there. She spent five years getting to know Tea Party supporters, and found common ground, and a deep story of feeling left behind, that explains much about American politics.
How long does it take to read Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right?
About 9 hours (351 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right?
If you liked it, try The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond or The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson.
By the numbers
- Readers81 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics28 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller26 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz4 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
National Book Award (Nonfiction) finalist (2016).
Where it ranks
- #20 of the 44 politics books we rank
- #130 of the 198 history books we rank
- #498 of the 1,575 modern books we rank
- #957 of the 2,819 books we rank
Shortlisted
- National Book Award (Nonfiction) finalist (2016)
Reads as
True story
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