Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State

“Full of interesting arguments and insights that will turn many deep-seated beliefs about American politics on their head.” —Stefan Fergus, Civilian Reader

On the night of the 2000 presidential election, Americans watched on television as polling results divided the nation's map into red and blue states. Since then the color divide has become symbolic of a culture war that thrives on stereotype—pickup-driving red-state Republicans who vote based on God, guns, and gays; and elitist blue-state Democrats woefully out of touch with heartland values. With wit and prodigious number crunching, Andrew Gelman debunks these and other political myths.

This expanded edition includes new data and easy-to-read graphics explaining the 2008 election. Red State, Blue State, Rich State, Poor State is a must-read for anyone seeking to make sense of today's fractured political landscape.

“Through a clear and crisp writing style, it quotes and refutes many widespread views of journalists and political pundits, even as it builds on the political science literature . . . this fun-to-read book may become a minor classic.” —Terry Nichols Clark and Christopher Graziul, Science

“This is the Freakonomics-style analysis that every candidate and campaign consultant should read.” —Robert Sommer, New York Observer

“Looking at the numbers as far back as 1952, this book debunks much of what we think we know about voting trends. Buy one today! Amuse your friends! Annoy your enemies! Bring cocktail party conversations to a grinding halt.” —Susan Campbell, The Hartford Courant