Review by Choice Review
Why are modern American politics so fiercely partisan and polarized? In this concise volume, Luttig (Colgate Univ.) confidently proclaims that the blame lies with people who are uncomfortable with uncertainty. Using survey data, Luttig finds that people who crave definitive outcomes are drawn to building strong partisan ties. Among Democrats and Republicans, those with a high need for closure are more likely to consider themselves strongly partisan, to view the parties in starkly different terms, and to object to interparty marriage. Political attentiveness amplifies this relationship, such that those paying the most attention have the strongest connection between certainty and partisanship, thus feeding an appetite for partisan news and partisan lives. Luttig emphasizes that this relationship exists in both parties, but he never grapples with the asymmetric realities of a highly partisan Republican life that normalizes insurrection compared to a highly partisan Democratic life that might feed calls for expanded health care access. Notably, Luttig suggests a less polarized future is possible if American voters learn to better tolerate uncertainty. He suggests several strategies, including "reading literary fiction, practicing cognitive behavioral therapy, and practicing mindfulness and meditation" (p. 96). Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty. --David Niven, University of Cincinnati
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
