Structure

The storyline for this book generally moves in a chronological fashion, with the author recounting her interviews in the order that they take place. As a result, this becomes the story of her increasing comprehension of their perspective. There are occasional deviations from this format, as she begins with Mike Schaff, a Tea Partier-turned-environmentalist who sees to embody the "great paradox," then returns to him several times over the course of the story, and when she injects historical context such as the administration of Governor Huey Long, the Civil War, and the Civil Rights movement into the tale. This chronological narrative concludes with the ascent of Donald Trump a few years after her research begin, making him appear to be the culmination of the factors she discussed with them.

Perspective

This narrative is told entirely from the perspective of the author, as she attempts to discover why...