American Nations

Why it’s on the list: Woodard divides North America into eleven regional cultures founded by different settler groups and argues that most American political conflict is a standing argument between them.

Where I heard about it

• Spotted at Barnes & Noble at South Towne, Sandy — August 2024 (Books photo album)

• Spotted at Barnes & Noble at South Towne, Sandy — May 2025 (Books photo album)

• The replies to @typesfast — named in the thread asking “What’s the best history book you’ve read?” (June 2025); the full set of replies is on What’s the best history book… (tweet).

Connections

• Culture — The unit of analysis.
• Migration — The settlement patterns underneath it.
• Democracy — The arguments the map is used to explain.
• What’s the best history book… (tweet) — the thread this recommendation came from.