Speaking on American Nations, July 23, North Haven, Maine

For the few of you out there who will be on Maine's North Haven Island this week, I'll be giving my American Nations talk Tuesday evening, July 23, at the Waterman's Center.

It's based on my most recent book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, which won the 2012 Maine Literary Award for Non-Fiction and was named a Best Book of 2011 by the editors of The New Republic. For those who've read the book, I'll also be showing how the results of the 2012 election cycle comported with the regional cultures defined in the book.

The talk kicks off at 8pm and there's a $10 admission. It's co-hosted by the Waterman's Center and the North Haven Conservation Partners, who had me out on the island a couple of years ago to speak on the past, present, and future of coastal Maine, the topic of one of my earlier books, The Lobster Coast.

My next scheduled presentations on American Nations are at Miami University of Ohio later this month, but I'll be back in Maine to speak at the Maine Island Trails Association small boaters conference at the end of August.

American Nations, the Penguin paperback

I'm pleased to announce that my most recent book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, is now available in paperback. Penguin put their edition on sale last week, with slightly modified cover art and the current map of the nations.

The book is also available in Viking hardcover, Kindle, Nook, and audiobook editions. I've provided links to the Amazon pages for informational purposes, but buy them from your local bookseller if your community is fortunate enough to still have one. (Here in Portland, Maine, that's Longfellow's where there are usually signed copies in stock.)

For more on the book, try the reviews and media available from the American Nations page at colinwoodard.com.

Presenting the (slighty revised) American Nations map

I'm pleased to present the improved version of the detailed American Nations Today map, which will appear in the Penguin paperback edition of the book to be released in the fall of 2012. [Update, 11/4/12: the paperback is now available.]

This map makes a two minor improvements over the original. We've bumped up the state and provincial borders a notch so as to make the map easier to navigate. I've also added a label to south Florida, since everyone always asks about it. There are also three county corrections: Allegheny (PA), St. Louis (MO) and St. Charles (MO) were always supposed to be in the Midlands (as they are in the text), but got misassigned to Greater Appalachia due to my own sloppiness. (Three thousand little boxes, so little time.)

[Update: 6/13/18: In the intervening years I found two other errant counties on this map: Bernalillo (NM) should be El Norte and Suffolk (NY) is Yankeedom.]

Feel free to either download the JPEG file above or a higher resolution PDF file and show it to your friends and colleagues. It's a wonderful conversation starter and comes from a book that would make an ideal gift for any occasion, except Talk Like a Pirate Day.

As always, let me know what you think, either here at World Wide Woodard or at the American Nations Facebook page.

[Update: 3/15/15: Here are population figures for the U.S. portions of the American Nations.]

[Update: 6/13/18: Here also is the map for Alaska, for those who are curious.]

[Update: 5/1/16: American Nations' sequel is out: American Character: A History of the Epic Struggle Between Individual Liberty and the Common Good.]

[Update: 1/7/17: Here is an analysis of the 2016 Presidential Election. Also caught and corrected error in the maps: Bernadillo County, NM should be El Norte (not Far West.)]

[Update: 7/31/20: Here is an analysis in the New York Times debunking the rural/urban divide using American Nations and here is an analysis of the geography of the early pandemic response. (Don't be fooled by the soft paywall pretending to be a hard paywall.)]

[Update: 8/31/20: The third part of the informal American Nations trilogy is now out: Union: The Struggle to Forge the Story of United States Nationhood. It's totally awesome.]

American Nations webinar at Global Post, Dec. 13

I'm Colin Woodard and I endorse this message:

Free Webinar: American Nations — The Eleven Rival Cultures of North America

Join us for a Webinar on December 13 Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/424625350 GlobalPost is pleased to invite you to a Webinar with Colin Woodard, author of the best-selling "American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America." On the cusp of the 2012 election year, few books provide more insight into the complex riot of American politics than American Nations, which delves into the country's entrenched regional cultural mosaic. Newsweek calls Woodard's book "a triumph," and the Washington Post hails it as "compelling and informative ... a bracing corrective to an accepted national narrative that too often overlooks regional variations to tell a simpler and more reassuring story. " Woodard is a writer, historian, award-winning journalist and occasional contributor to GlobalPost. He will be interviewed by GlobalPost Senior Editor David Case, and will take questions from the audience. Space is limited, and priority for this call will be granted to GlobalPost members. To ensure your attendance, you can join GlobalPost for less than $3 per month, at www.globalpost.com/members/information. (Important note: Everyone — including members — must register for the call at least two hours before it begins.) Title: Free Webinar: American Nations — The Eleven Rival Cultures of North America Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 Time: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM EST After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

My PBS News Hour interview, airing tonight

Thanks to my father's media habits, I've been watching the PBS News Hour since grade school, back when it was still called the MacNeil-Lehrer News Hour, and the wonderful Nova Scotian, Robin MacNeil, was co-hosting. I still turn to it as an antidote to the frenetic, sensationalized network and cable news, coupled with the half-hour fix of the BBC carried by my local public television network.

So I'm especially pleased to have been interviewed by the News Hour's Margaret Warner about my new book, American Nations, for a segment that's scheduled to run tonight, Thanksgiving evening. If you live in Maine or New Hampshire, that's at 7pm, though its sometimes broadcast earlier or later in other parts of the country. We filmed the segment at the Gadsby Tavern in Alexandria, Virginia, a structure dating back to 1785, when it served as sort of the Willard Hotel of its age, a gathering place for past and present presidents, Senators, and cabinet officials of the Early Republic.

Please tune in whilst you digest your turkey.

If you're looking for other ways to idle away the holiday, Washington Monthly has just posted my latest American Nations-fueled piece on U.S. politics, this one on Mitt Romney, Mormonism, and Yankeedom and provocatively titled "Can the Dems Flip Utah?" Its one of a series of pieces at their Ten Miles Square blog tapping off my feature in the current issue of the magazine. Have a look, and let me know what you think, particularly if you live in Utah.

And Happy Thanksgiving.

[Update, 1/25/2011: The interview is now online as well.]

Washington Post features American Nations

The Washington Post's review of my new book, American Nations, is on the front of the Outlook section today, with the official two-page "nations" map after the jump. The online version of the review -- by The New Republic's Alec MacGillis -- is up as well.

The inevitable pull quote: "a compelling and informative attempt to make sense of the regional divides in North America in general and this country in particular....Woodard provides a bracing corrective to an accepted national narrative that too often overlooks regional variations..."

I've been delighted with the media attention the book has been receiving, including the Boston Globe, Daily Beast, Christian Science Monitor, Wall Street Journal, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Arizona Republic, Bloomberg, Rolling Stone.com, Maine Sunday Telegram, and Raleigh News & Observer. I've also been able to demonstrate the analytical utility of the paradigm in understanding current political developments in a feature and blog posts at Washington Monthly.

For those of you in northern California and southwestern Oregon, I'll be on Jefferson Public Radio tomorrow morning from 9 to 10 am Pacific. (Yes, everyone else, that's as in the "State of Jefferson.")

Talking American Nations on New Books Network

I was the guest this week on the popular New Books In History Podcast, part of the New Books Network. Its a liberating, long-form format, with over an hour to really talk about the implications of one's book. You can download it at itunes as well.

The host, Marshall Poe, is a former Atlantic staffer who wrote this enjoyable piece in a recent issue of the magazine on his personal odyssey in researching a book on Wikipedia. (He pitched a "big idea" book, but in digging into his subject wound up with -- alas -- a mere book of ideas.)

American Nations in Christian Science Monitor, News & Observer, the Yukon

A few more media "hits" for my new book, American Nations:

The Christian Science Monitor reviewed it yesterday, giving it positive marks, though the reviewer was looking for a slightly different book. On Facebook, some of my friends and I played around with crafting the inevitable pull-quote from the review. The reviewer's punchline was: "a fascinating new take on our history – but not enough insight into our future." I suggested editing it to just "a fascinating new take on our history...", but cleverer colleagues suggested "A fascinating new take on our history... insight into our future" and -- my personal favorite -- "‎fascinating...but not enough." In any case, enjoy the review.

Meanwhile, a columnist at the Raleigh News & Observer has used American Nations to demonstrate some of the ironies of the current immigration debate as it relates to the region I call El Norte. Good stuff.

Finally -- and I know you've all been waiting for it -- here's my interview with CBC Radio in Whitehorse, Yukon. Yes, the Yukon.

Daily Beast: American Nations "a true triumph"

The Daily Beast/Newsweek has just published a glowing review of my new book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

"[In] offering us a way to better understand the forces at play in the rumpus room of current American politics, Colin Woodard has scored a true triumph," Beast reviewer Steve Kettmann writes. "The key to the book’s effectiveness is Woodard’s skill—and irreverence—in delving into history with no qualms about being both brisk and contrarian....Yankees come off the worst...and Woodard seems particularly aghast at their eagerness to claim the U.S. narrative as their own."

I particularly enjoyed that last bit, as it's indeed true. Yes -- as some Deep Southern sympathizers have pointed out -- I'm from Yankeedom; but what they don't realize is that I'm also a native Mainer and, thus, raised in a regional subculture that was conquered by -- and has remained skeptical of -- the Puritan project, including the seizure of the historical narrative of both the region and the federation. (For more on all this subregional discord, please see my second book, The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and The Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier.)

And I certainly don't mind being lumped in with Jon Stewart, who remains far and away the most forthright and insightful political commentator on U.S. television. (Happy to lend a hand, Jon, anytime you need someone on the show.)

Arizona Republic, St. Louis Post-Dispatch on American Nations

My new book, American Nations, was featured in two major Sunday papers today.

The Arizona Republic carried an OpEd with my byline -- "The great divide" --crafted from excerpts of the book. It lays out the central argument that the U.S. is really a federation of disparate "nations" and always has been and notes that it can only function through compromise at the federal level; that's how the deal between the component regional cultures was brokered.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reviews the book in today's paper, calling it important if not "easy" reading. The reviewer also seems to have misread the "nations" map in the book: the counties that make up the St. Louis metro area are divided between the Midlands and Greater Appalachia, just as the text in the book notes. (Similarly, Chicago is another "border city" straddling the Midlands and Yankeedom.

Speaking on American Nations, Portland, Oct. 26

For Southern Mainers who were unable to attend the Oct. 13 launch event, I'm speaking on American Nations this Wednesday, October 26 at the Maine Historical Society in downtown Portland at 7 pm. Do come if you can.

The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing for those interested in such.

American Nations has been getting some nice local attention, including a feature in the Maine Sunday Telegram, a recent cover story in the Portland Phoenix, and this segment on WCSH television's 207 program. It's also a #1 bestseller on the Maine Sunday Telegram list this week.

Speaking on American Nations, Washington, DC, Oct. 17

For those of you in the U.S. Capital Region, I'll be speaking about American Nations at the ASU Washington Center at DuPont Circle on Monday evening, October 17 at 6pm.

It's an event co-sponsored by Zocalo Public Square and the ASU Center for Social Cohesion. Their series has an enjoyable format: a 30 minute presentation followed by an hour reception at which all audience members are encouraged to engage in conversation with the presenter and each other. This particular event will be introduced by Andres Martinez from the New America Foundation.

The event is open to the public, but they ask you to RSVP online. Come if you can!

American Nations in Portland Phoenix, Miller McCune, Zocalo

Regular readers of this blog are probably weary of hearing about my new book, American Nations, but I'm out flogging it these days, so brace yourselves....

Today, there's an extensive interview and book excerpt in the Portland Phoenix, where my more time-sensitive coverage of Maine politics usually appears. Thanks to the editors there for their interest. [Update, 10/14/11: Finally saw the print edition, which has American Nations on the cover, with a colorized map of the nations (above) to boot!]

Last night the always refreshing Miller-McCune magazine posted their interview feature on their website. [Update, 10/14/11: This piece was also cross-featured at Real Clear Science.

Yesterday, Zocalo Public Square published my essay on how the existence of the eleven "American Nations" complicates the job of running for president (and why Republicans would indeed be wise to pick Romney over Perry.) Zocalo is co-sponsoring my speaking event in Washington, D.C. this coming Monday (Oct. 17.)


And for those who just haven't gotten their fill, we have a book launch event at the Portland (Maine) Public Library tonight at 6:30. Come on by and say hello. [Update, 10/14/11: Thanks much for all of you who were able to join us!]

Speaking on WCSH/WLBZ's "207"

I was one of the guests on last night's edition of "207," the interview program produced by Maine's two NBC affiliates, WCSH-6 in Portland and WLBZ-2 in Bangor.

The segment -- in which host Rob Caldwell talks with me about my newly released book, American Nations -- is now online, for those interested.

The station's website makes mention of this Thursday's book launch party here in Portland. Note that this event actually starts at 6:30, not 7 (as once planned.) More details here.

American Nations launch event, Portland, Me., Oct 13

For those of you in Greater Portland (Maine, that is), we're having a book launch event for American Nations this Thursday, October 13, at 6:30pm at the main branch of the Portland Public Library.

I'll be introducing the book in the auditorium and, thereafter, there will be a reception where Longfellows will be selling books (which I'm happy to sign.) Come if you can!

Thanks to the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance for co-hosting.

If you can't make this event, I'll also be speaking Oct 26 at the Maine Historical Society here in Portland. (And for those in Washington, D.C., I'll be doing an event near you on Monday, Oct. 17.)

American Nations - The Rolling Stone interview

Rolling Stone interviewed me last week about American Nations. The story -- "Why Americans Can't Just Get Along" -- just posted on the RS Politics Daily section of their website, along with an excerpt from the book.

I've been very appreciative of the attention the book has received in its first week of life, including a five-part series of excerpts by Bloomberg / Business Week and a review in last Sunday's Boston Globe.

Bloomberg's fifth American Nations excerpt....and a nifty map.

The fifth and final installment of Bloomberg's series of excerpts from my new book, American Nations, posted today. Best of all, it includes this amusing map of the nations, with pop culture flags to boot.

Here's Part IV as well, and a prior post with links to the previous three.

Bloomberg excerpts of American Nations

Bloomberg has been running a five part series of excerpts from my new book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

The third installment is up now across their platforms. Previous episodes can be found here and here. The final two will run Tuesday and Wednesday. For reference, they've also been linking to the map on the cover at my website, which has been generating a startling amount of traffic there.

Enjoy. And let me know what you think.

Boston Globe on American Nations

Today's Boston Sunday Globe has a nice review of my new book, American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, which was released last Thursday.

The inevitable pull-quote for the paperback: "a smart read that feels particularly timely now, when so many would claim a mythically unified “Founding Fathers’’ as their political ancestors."

Last week, I had the pleasure of presenting American Nations to audiences in Camden and Bangor, and am looking forward to a pair of events here in Portland later this month. Bloomberg continues their five-part series of excerpts tomorrow, and Rolling Stone.com has an interview scheduled to run the following day. Thanks to all for the kind attention and insightful comments.