Slate's reading recommendation for Obama and Romney: American Nations

Last week on Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, the three co-hosts discussed book recommendations for President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to help them along the campaign trail.

I was pleased, of course, when the magazine's chief political correspondent, John Dickerson, recommended American Nations. Right on. (The audio for this starts at 46:55.)

Meanwhile, Steve Kornacki at Salon weighed in further on what is now being called "Obama's Greater Appalachia Problem." This is a reference to one of the regional cultures in the book, and Kornacki provided a hyperlink to my nations map for reference, which some hundreds of people clicked on last week. If you haven't seen the map yet, click as well. No, really, click it. You know you want to.

For those curious what the book's paradigm has to say about this presidential campaign season, check out my essay on this subject in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Chronicle Review this week. (It's not yet out online.) [Update: 6/25/12: Now it is.]

Or, if you happen to live in the Penobscot Bay region of Maine, come to my free public talk in Castine this coming Wednesday, June 27, at 7pm. It's part of the Maine Writers Series at the Witherle Library and jointly sponsored by the Wilson Museum and Castine Historical Society.