Knopf, January 2009
Released just in time for Obama's inauguration, The Nation Guide to the Nation might be the best book to help the new president's supporters find others united in celebration. Part catalog, part handbook, part almanac, The Nation Guide is the ultimate resource for liberals seeking community in something as small as a cup of fair-trade coffee or as large as a 30-acre radical homestead.
The Nation Guide to the Nation is the brainchild of writers from The Nation, the country's oldest and most popular lefty magazine. In it, senior editor Richard Lingeman and a group of the magazine's interns, editors, columnists and friends have scoured the American landscape to find community-centered cafés, farmers' markets, and left-leaning radio stations. More than 27,000 of the magazine's loyal readers filled in the gaps by championing the preferred places in their necks of the woods.
The Nation Guide to the Nation is written for those of "left-liberal-radical persuasion," as the book's Introduction calls The Nation's readers, and it offers ways for people who would identify themselves as such to connect. It's a book for the liberal-minded to pinpoint places where they'll find kindred spirits, community, or "folks who'll help them organize an antiwar rally or a fund-raiser or a peace march or a discussion group or a food co-op."
Released just in time for Obama's inauguration, The Nation Guide to the Nation might be the best book to help the new president's supporters find others united in celebration. Part catalog, part handbook, part almanac, The Nation Guide is the ultimate resource for liberals seeking community in something as small as a cup of fair-trade coffee or as large as a 30-acre radical homestead.
The Nation Guide to the Nation is the brainchild of writers from The Nation, the country's oldest and most popular lefty magazine. In it, senior editor Richard Lingeman and a group of the magazine's interns, editors, columnists and friends have scoured the American landscape to find community-centered cafés, farmers' markets, and left-leaning radio stations. More than 27,000 of the magazine's loyal readers filled in the gaps by championing the preferred places in their necks of the woods.
The Nation Guide to the Nation is written for those of "left-liberal-radical persuasion," as the book's Introduction calls The Nation's readers, and it offers ways for people who would identify themselves as such to connect. It's a book for the liberal-minded to pinpoint places where they'll find kindred spirits, community, or "folks who'll help them organize an antiwar rally or a fund-raiser or a peace march or a discussion group or a food co-op."
The Nation Guide is divided into five sections spanning general topics such as culture, media, advocacy, goods and services, and social networks. Sprinkled throughout are interesting sidebars with relevant historical tidbits and additional commentary by respected topical experts. Each section is further subdivided into categories, and then detailed listings follow, generally offering a description and contact information.
The Goods and Services section, for example, lists "Clothing: Fair Trade Fashions" under its Goods heading. A conscious shopper in New York might be attracted to the listing for MooShoes, a Lower East Side boutique run by a pair of vegan sisters. The Nation Guide description says that MooShoes sells only "cruelty-free (no animals killed) footwear, bags, T-shirts, wallets, books, and other accessories." The MooShoes address, phone number, and website are listed, and on the same page, readers can find a sidebar that outlines how fair trade organizations differ from commercial importers.
In some areas, The Nation Guide relies more on listing than on describing, such as in a portion of the media section called "What's Online." Here readers will find a list of progressive websites that range in content from hard-boiled liberal news to single-issue commentary. Under the "Radio Making Waves" heading, a simple list of radio stations offering progressive programming is meant to be a "ray of light" for liberals stuck listening to Rush Limbaugh during their morning commute.
The Goods and Services section, for example, lists "Clothing: Fair Trade Fashions" under its Goods heading. A conscious shopper in New York might be attracted to the listing for MooShoes, a Lower East Side boutique run by a pair of vegan sisters. The Nation Guide description says that MooShoes sells only "cruelty-free (no animals killed) footwear, bags, T-shirts, wallets, books, and other accessories." The MooShoes address, phone number, and website are listed, and on the same page, readers can find a sidebar that outlines how fair trade organizations differ from commercial importers.
In some areas, The Nation Guide relies more on listing than on describing, such as in a portion of the media section called "What's Online." Here readers will find a list of progressive websites that range in content from hard-boiled liberal news to single-issue commentary. Under the "Radio Making Waves" heading, a simple list of radio stations offering progressive programming is meant to be a "ray of light" for liberals stuck listening to Rush Limbaugh during their morning commute.
The Nation Guide will be most helpful to those rooted in a specific area and looking for other like-minded individuals. It could also be used as a travel guide of sorts, directing readers towards the places they might like to visit in a new town. A book lover from Baltimore, for instance, might consult The Nation Guide before making a trip to Denver and find Tattered Cover, a well-known independent bookstore, listed under the "Bookstores for Left-Brained People" heading.
While The Nation Guide will be a good community resource for many years to come, it is by no means comprehensive, and it sometimes has a random feel. Lists seem to be ordered according to the whims of those who compiled them, and some of the listings by state are not alphabetized, as they easily could be to facilitate quick reference.
The Nation Guide is, however, a good gift book for a liberal friend or family member. It's the kind of reference that will be cherished for its interesting facts and political position, but it's not likely the kind of book a person will read cover to cover in a single sitting.
While The Nation Guide will be a good community resource for many years to come, it is by no means comprehensive, and it sometimes has a random feel. Lists seem to be ordered according to the whims of those who compiled them, and some of the listings by state are not alphabetized, as they easily could be to facilitate quick reference.
The Nation Guide is, however, a good gift book for a liberal friend or family member. It's the kind of reference that will be cherished for its interesting facts and political position, but it's not likely the kind of book a person will read cover to cover in a single sitting.
So where will be the best place to celebrate Obama's inauguration? I suppose the answer ultimately depends on your preferences. But The Nation Guide is sure to generate some good ideas, whether you'd rather hang out at a progressive sandwich shop, an out-there saloon, or your local newsstand.
This book will satisfy free-thinking people everywhere and won't disappoint loyal readers of The Nation. Like it, The Nation Guide is "quirky and eclectic and quite contrarian, unique, improbable, impractical, handy, cheap at the price and priceless."
This book will satisfy free-thinking people everywhere and won't disappoint loyal readers of The Nation. Like it, The Nation Guide is "quirky and eclectic and quite contrarian, unique, improbable, impractical, handy, cheap at the price and priceless."
