Contents

Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Preface ix
4. Introduction: Two Americas 1
5. 1. Who and What Is Rural America? 23
6. 2. The Deep Roots of the Rural-Urban Divide (1776–1980) 59
7. 3. Manufacturing the Myth of “Real America” (1980–Present) 93
8. 4. Listening to Rural Americans 141
9. 5. Down and Out in Rural America? 158
10. 6. A Wasteland of Alienation? 200
11. 7. Clinging to Their Guns and Religion? 244
12. 8. Irredeemably Racist? 287
13. 9. Radicalized by Fox? 324
14. 10. Pulling It All Together 359
15. 11. Bridges Across the Rural-Urban Divide 380
16. Notes 415
17. Index 453