Reviews
"Mr. Wuthnow has conducted one of the deepest, most intimate examinations of small-town life ever undertaken." ---David Shribman, The Globe and Mail, "Distilling an impressive body of research, this book describes the core characteristics of rural moral communities and brings important conceptualizations of rural life to audiences that may not have previously encountered them. Given the contemporary political environment, The Left Behind is a timely contribution." 'e"Colin Jerolmack, New York University, "Analytical and humane, this account of the dense, vexed moral communities of rural America is based on profound fieldwork conducted over the course of a decade by one of our most accomplished sociologists. Conveying the anxieties and resentments that run deep in stressed but resilient small-town America, Wuthnow's appraisal of ethical sensibilities, patterns and limits of membership, and political orientations is learned, engrossing, and timely." 'e"Ira Katznelson, author of Fear Itself: The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time, "Wuthnow draws on his trove of primary source interviews and observations in small-town America, and a wealth of other materials, to effectively describe how the social fabric and moral tenors of small towns are changing. This thoughtful and effective book serves as a corrective to the caricatures of small-town America and is an important resource for our shared future." 'e"Courtney Bender, Columbia University, "Thanks to Wuthnow'e(tm)s rich observations, we are able to address and understand what truly confronts us as a nation: the triumph of mass society through mass politics in the name of the 'little guy.' Little did we know that such a person would also have the hands to match." ---L. Benjamin Rolsky, Los Angeles Review of Books, "Wuthnow cogently confronts the question: Why are so many of the people living in small-town America filled with rage? Instead of condemning, he listens. In this highly accessible, instructive book, Wuthnow reminds readers why the so-called American Dream is closely connected to the politics of place." --Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, "Thanks to Wuthnow's rich observations, we are able to address and understand what truly confronts us as a nation: the triumph of mass society through mass politics in the name of the 'little guy.' Little did we know that such a person would also have the hands to match." ---L. Benjamin Rolsky, Los Angeles Review of Books, "Analytical and humane, this account of the dense, vexed moral communities of rural America is based on profound fieldwork conducted over the course of a decade by one of our most accomplished sociologists. Conveying the anxieties and resentments that run deep in stressed but resilient small-town America, Wuthnow's appraisal of ethical sensibilities, patterns and limits of membership, and political orientations is learned, engrossing, and timely." --Ira Katznelson, author of Fear Itself: The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time, "Wuthnow cogently confronts the question: Why are so many of the people living in small-town America filled with rage? Instead of condemning, he listens. In this highly accessible, instructive book, Wuthnow reminds readers why the so-called American Dream is closely connected to the politics of place." 'e"Nancy Isenberg, author of White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America, Writing with empathy . . . the author reflects on the factors shaping rural life--from the importance of faith to the stability and familiarity of life in town to the importance of ritual events (barn dances, etc.), stories, and symbols--as well as pressing problems (brain drain, teen pregnancy, drugs, lack of good jobs) and concerns over moral decline (abortion and homosexuality). Wuthnow finds nuances: the isolation-ending benefits of the internet, Walmart, and 24/7 cable news have made rural residents more aware that the world 'was changing and leaving them behind.' His interviews are consistently revealing. . . . A superb, authoritative sociology book., "Writing with empathy . . . the author reflects on the factors shaping rural life--from the importance of faith to the stability and familiarity of life in town to the importance of ritual events (barn dances, etc.), stories, and symbols--as well as pressing problems (brain drain, teen pregnancy, drugs, lack of good jobs) and concerns over moral decline (abortion and homosexuality). Wuthnow finds nuances: the isolation-ending benefits of the internet, Walmart, and 24/7 cable news have made rural residents more aware that the world 'was changing and leaving them behind.' His interviews are consistently revealing. . . . A superb, authoritative sociology book." -- Kirkus , starred review, "Wuthnow draws on his trove of primary source interviews and observations in small-town America, and a wealth of other materials, to effectively describe how the social fabric and moral tenors of small towns are changing. This thoughtful and effective book serves as a corrective to the caricatures of small-town America and is an important resource for our shared future." --Courtney Bender, Columbia University, "Distilling an impressive body of research, this book describes the core characteristics of rural moral communities and brings important conceptualizations of rural life to audiences that may not have previously encountered them. Given the contemporary political environment, The Left Behind is a timely contribution." --Colin Jerolmack, New York University
