Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How to Restore Our Nation

(Hardback)

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Polarization. Tribalization. Division. Some look at the growing political tension in our nation and call it a "cold civil war." Others say it's nothing more than the culture war of the last three decades, amplified beyond reason by social media. David French argues that it's something else-the beginning of a national separation that could very well end in secession. An engaging mix of cutting edge research and fair-minded analysis, Divided We Fall is an unblinking look at the true dimensions and dangers of this widening ideological gap, and what could happen if we don't take steps toward bridging it. French imagines a near future where the states are no longer united. He illustrates several chillingly plausible national break-up scenarios, and unpacks the significant-and often surprising-domestic and global consequences of such an event. But our future is not written in stone. There are solutions, but they aren't easy and they require an awakening. They require the rediscovery of old American constitutional principles combined with a dose of humility for all sides. If we want to remain standing, we must learn to stand together again.

Reviews

In his admirably measured book Divided We Fall, French convincingly argues that polarization is putting America on a perilous path to disunion. --James Kirchick, New York Times Book Review

French makes a powerful case that the country could be heading toward dissolution--not so much a hot civil war as a bitter domestic cold war leading to an acrimonious divorce through secession. --Jonah Goldberg, The Dispatch

World Magazine's 'Understanding America Book of the Year.' The United States is more polarized than at any time since the Civil War. The highly discussed book that best recognizes that--and proposes what to do--is David French's Divided We Fall: America's Secession Threat and How To Restore Our Nation. --World Magazine

French laments conspiracy-minded rhetoric from both the right and the left in this incisive examination of contemporary political polarization. This well-informed and often moving account provides an antidote to the ills of political partisanship. --Publishers Weekly

[French is] not calling on us to agree--just to continue disagreeing without destroying ourselves. --Carlos Lozada, Washington Post

French presents a vision for how the country can come together again and embrace national unity. --Mackenzie Dawson, New York Post

In a season of sharp contrasts between red and blue and with a major election looming, French's book is a timely and necessary read. Even those who don't quite believe in the imminent danger of secession will appreciate his call to renewed courage and character. He offers a timeless reminder of the importance of justice, mercy and humility toward one another--imperfect people in an imperfect world, still hoping for a more perfect union. --Terri Barnes, Stars and Stripes

French's book is important because he has his eyes fixed on the real or most fundamental problem confronting American democracy, and because he doesn't allow himself to get sucked into or distracted by the more superficial conflicts that feed into that problem and make it worse...deserves to be widely read and debated among those who would help America avoid the worst of its many possible futures. --Damon Linker, The Week

Author Bio

DAVID FRENCH is a senior writer at National Review, a senior fellow at the National Review Institute, and the author or co-author of several books, most recently Rise of ISIS: A Threat We Can't Ignore, a New York Times bestseller.