Ezra Klein

Reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America's deep political divisions, showing how a system filled with rational, functional parts can combine into a dysfunctional whole

Why We're Polarised

This New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller shows us that America’s political system isn’t broken. The truth is scarier: it’s working exactly as designed. In this “superbly researched” (The Washington Post) and timely book, journalist Ezra Klein reveals how that system is polarizing us—and how we are polarizing it—with disastrous results. “The American political system—which includes everyone from voters to journalists to the president—is full of rational actors making rational decisions given the incentives they face,” writes political analyst Ezra Klein. “We are a collection of functional parts whose efforts combine into a dysfunctional whole.” “A thoughtful, clear and persuasive analysis” (The New York Times Book Review), Why We’re Polarized reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America’s descent into division and dysfunction. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump’s rise to the Democratic Party’s leftward shift to the politicization of everyday culture. America is polarized, first and foremost, by identity. Everyone engaged in American politics is engaged, at some level, in identity politics. Over the past fifty years in America, our partisan identities have merged with our racial, religious, geographic, ideological, and cultural identities. These merged identities have attained a weight that is breaking much in our politics and tearing at the bonds that hold this country together. Klein shows how and why American politics polarized around identity in the 20th century, and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and one another. And he traces the feedback loops between polarized political identities and polarized political institutions that are driving our system toward crisis. “Well worth reading” (New York magazine), this is an “eye-opening” (O, The Oprah Magazine) book that will change how you look at politics—and perhaps at yourself.

Why We're Polarized

i've been jaded by how politics has been discussed in the mainstream, but i appreciate the level-headedness that ezra klein voices in this book. his writing style is so clear and consistent that i can hear him in my head all throughout, just like his podcast. he's a writer operating well within his wheelhouse, even as he's well-aware of his own biases.

i mostly agree with his sentiments, and even though i don't have the relevant research to back me up i get the inkling that his framework also applies locally. the only difference is that he can be a lot more optimistic about his own country and party, if only because they've won the popular vote.

kuuri

i've been jaded by how politics has been discussed in the mainstream, but i appreciate the level-headedness that ezra klein voices in this book. his writing style is so clear and consistent that i can hear him in my head all throughout, just like his podcast. he's a writer operating well within his wheelhouse, even as he's well-aware of his own biases.

i mostly agree with his sentiments, and even though i don't have the relevant research to back me up i get the inkling that his framework also applies locally. the only difference is that he can be a lot more optimistic about his own country and party, if only because they've won the popular vote.

Gelaine Trinidad

I wanted to read this book because I'm a fan of Ezra Klein's podcast. He is a great interviewer and provides an objective lens when discussing political issues. In this book, Klein tries to offer historical context on the nature of Democrats and Republicans. He talks about negative partisanship: “We became more consistent in the party we vote for not because we came to like our party more—indeed, we’ve come to like the parties we vote for less—but because we came to dislike the opposing party more. Even as hope and change sputter, fear and loathing proceed." He also criticizes social media, the birth of political mega-identities, PC culture, and the democratization of discomfort. For example, he makes a point about how opinion pieces for journalism have now become identity pieces.

I learned quite a lot from reading this book. It talks about the success of the civil rights movement leading to the downfall of the Dixiecrat wing party. Several sociological and psychological studies provided a rationale for the further polarization in America through an Us vs. Them mentality. He also informs readers about our biases when digesting political information (identity-protective cognition). Klein sounded pessimistic on political media and how biased it can be "to capture loud, outrageous, colorful, inspirational, and confrontational stories." He points out everyone is covering the same thing thus inspiring more focus on nationalized politics. The irony of him being a co-founder of Vox is not lost on me. 

I don't agree with everything he says but it was still highly informative. There are many examples on how the Republican party has become even more homogenized with its core demographics and religion. The best and more optimistic parts would have to be the last two chapters. He provides recommendations on how America can be a better democracy.

Polarization begets polarization. Klein's book gives a glimpse on American's current political climate. However, it doesn't capture the whole picture. Readers interested in American politics should take this as one aspect of a much larger and complex puzzle that is America's democracy.

America’s political system isn’t broken. The truth is scarier: it’s working exactly as designed. In this book, journalist Ezra Klein reveals how that system is polarizing us—and how we are polarizing it—with disastrous results. “The American political system—which includes everyone from voters to journalists to the president—is full of rational actors making rational decisions given the incentives they face,” writes political analyst Ezra Klein. “We are a collection of functional parts whose efforts combine into a dysfunctional whole.” In Why We’re Polarized, Klein reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America’s descent into division and dysfunction. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump’s rise to the Democratic Party’s leftward shift to the politicization of everyday culture. America is polarized, first and foremost, by identity. Everyone engaged in American politics is engaged, at some level, in identity politics. Over the past fifty years in America, our partisan identities have merged with our racial, religious, geographic, ideological, and cultural identities. These merged identities have attained a weight that is breaking much in our politics and tearing at the bonds that hold this country together. Klein shows how and why American politics polarized around identity in the twentieth century, and what that polarization did to the way we see the world and one another. And he traces the feedback loops between polarized political identities and polarized political institutions that are driving our system toward crisis. This is a revelatory book that will change how you look at politics, and perhaps at yourself.

This book was a very helpful perspective of the current state of American politics. It breaks down where we are now, in a highly polarized and angry state, as well as what influenced the changes and how to live in it now. 

Rachel Stratton

Mani Mohan

Mandatory reading for everyone. Highly recommend. 

A lot of things to take away from the book, but if I have to just point out a couple, that would be identity mindfulness and informational diet.

Jimmy Cerone

Endlessly fascinating take that mixes psychology, history, and an expertise in news media. A great pair with Jonathan Haidt’s Righteous Mind.

Felipe Saldarriaga 

Great to understand the fundamentalism that represents the two sides of politics in the USA, but the book is guided as an "us against them", was expecting something different about the bias and strategies used in "both" sides but the book feels biased.

I decided to end it quickly and skip a lot of content.

Let's just say, Ezra made an otherwise boring topic of politics interesting. 

MereCivilian

Fraser Simons

I feel like this had a page count limit and could have been a bit more comprehensive. Some of the most insightful aspects of the analysis aren’t new, but they do work as scaffolding toots pertinent conclusions. It just feels like a few more factors contribute to polarization but are sidestepped in order to get to the conclusion Klein wants. While this is understandable the structure does feel rushed and somewhat works to undermine because you know there are other factors not playing a part, that ought to be.

Brian Walborn

A nice primer and entry into the mindset of our divided America that attempts a fresh approach. I felt the first half of this book provided depth to my understanding of current events. The second half was uneven but ultimately raised important questions without easy answers. Insightful and at times provocative, a must-read in this political climate and particularly in an election year. I recommend this one for anyone baffled how we came this moment in history. It wasn't by chance.

Caitlin Snyder

I agree with some of what Klein says and disagree with other conclusions. It's definitely an extremely well researched book. I'll be reading some of his sources for more information for sure!

Fred Markle

A New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestseller "Few books are as well-matched to the moment of their publication" - Dan Hopkins, The Washington Post "Powerful [and] intelligent" - Fareed Zakaria, CNN "Superbly researched and written" - Francis Fukuyama, The Washington Post America's political system isn't broken. The truth is scarier: it's working exactly as designed. In Why We're Polarised, Ezra Klein reveals the structural and psychological forces behind America's deep political divisions, revealing how a system filled with rational, functional parts can combine into a dysfunctional whole. Neither a polemic nor a lament, this book offers a clear framework for understanding everything from Trump's rise to the Democratic Party's leftward shift to the politicisation of everyday culture. Klein shows how and why American politics polarised in the twentieth century, what that polarisation did to Americans' views of the world and one another, and how feedback loops between polarised political identities and polarised political institutions drive the system toward crisis. This revelatory book will change how you look at politics, and perhaps at yourself.

Why We're Polarised

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