Synopsis:
America is the land of the free, the beacon of democracy, and the leader of the world. It is the land of opportunity and a nation of homeowners. Or is it? Packed with maps, graphics, illustrations, and incisive essays, this handy, concise atlas examines the most cherished ideals about American life to see how they measure up to the realities: Who votes for whom? Are McMansions really taking over? Where do soldiers come from? Where are the guns? Is the foreclosure crisis affecting everyone? Where are the uninsured? How are women faring in the Great Recession? Are there any wild open spaces left in America?
Review:
"a visually stunning collection of 40 chapters that lays bare the condition of the modern US." --Times Higher Education
"The Real State of America Atlas is a visually stunning collection of 40 chapters that lays bare the condition of the modern US. Each chapter opens with a short textual overview, but the majority of space is given over to maps, graphs and diagrams that cover everything from home ownership and homelessness through religion and sport to climate change and the economy. It is not a conventional academic research text. Although its audience is not explicitly stated, it would work perfectly as a secondary-school resource and could attract a broad general readership. It is overwhelming in the weight of factual material it presents, yet clear and direct in its style. The authors - and certainly the designer, Isabelle Lewis, who receives a well-deserved acknowledgement - understand perfectly the persuasive power of maps and use it wonderfully effectively here.....It is refreshing to see such talented communicators reaching out beyond traditional academic audiences. They have important things to say, and for too long academia has neglected this wider duty. The Real State of America Atlas shows what can be achieved when the wider impacts of social research are taken seriously. It offers a visual hymn to the power of maps, geography and the endless fascination of a nation with which so much of the world has such an essential relationship." --Times Higher Education
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