EP 162: Andy Mills on What the Media Missed

In 'Hillbilly Elegy,' J.D. Vance recounts his life growing up in a dysfunctional family in Middletown, Ohio, with roots in Kentucky's Appalachia. The book details his experiences with poverty, addiction, and family violence, as well as his journey to joining the marines and eventually graduating from Yale Law School. Vance provides a personal and insightful look into the decline of the white working class in America, exploring themes of family, culture, and the loss of the American dream. The memoir also touches on the political swing of the region, particularly in relation to the 2016 presidential election and the appeal of Donald Trump to this demographic.

In 'Where Have All the Democrats Gone? ', John B. Judis and Ruy Teixeira examine the tectonic changes in the American political landscape that have led to the Democratic Party's current struggles. The authors argue that the party, once a stronghold of small towns, big cities, the industrial working class, and newly immigrated communities, has abandoned and alienated many of these voters. They provide a detailed critique of how the party's radical turn to the left and its focus on identity politics have contributed to its electoral vulnerabilities. The book suggests that the Democrats must move back toward the center and reconnect with mainstream values to avoid political disaster. It is a timely and essential argument for common sense and common ground in American politics.

In this book, Jared Diamond explains why Eurasian and North African civilizations have survived and conquered others. He argues that differences in societal development arise primarily from geographical causes. The book details how agricultural societies developed immunities to deadly diseases, advanced in technology, and formed centralized political structures, ultimately leading to the conquest of other societies. Diamond also discusses the impact of germs, domesticated animals, and environmental factors on human history.