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50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy

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Is America as divided as it seems? Oxford University graduate student Ryan Bernsten takes a 23,000-mile journey through all 50 states of his home country to answer that question.

50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy is a work of travel nonfiction in the style of Alexis de Tocqueville that takes readers on a long and winding journey through all 50 states to explore the complexities of today’s America. Leading with the desire to listen and overcome preconceived notions, Bernsten ultimately offers a hopeful vision for the future of America as he embarks on a search for meaning and reflects on what it means to be American. The companion podcast “50 States of Mind,” featured in Condé Nast Traveler , showcases live interviews from the journey and is available on all podcast platforms.

258 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2023

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Ryan Bernsten

5 books2 followers

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5 stars
15 (62%)
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1 (4%)
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5 (20%)
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2 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Profile Image for Luke Neville .
17 reviews
May 4, 2023
As someone who moved to the US during the 2016 election, I've struggled to conjure up an image of America that isn't divided in two. Us against them. Ryan's book helped articulate feelings and desires to dive head first into the "grey area". To find the common thread. To bring to light the things that link us all together.

Ryan perfectly emphasizes his love of looking at life from a million different perspectives, simultaneously stepping into other peoples shoes without negating both the struggles and importantly, the privilege, of his own.

This book will serve as a cornerstone for me. A book to return to amidst the ebbs and flows of the current political climate and when I'm facing the tsunami of dreadful news heading our way every minute of the day. That to take stock, and be present is important. To listen. To learn.

Quite simply, a fantastic read.
Profile Image for Lauren.
2 reviews
June 19, 2023
I went into this expecting to find a hard hitting political view of our nation and while, yes, this is a book on finding hope in democracy… I was left finding hope in humanity. This is a book about being human and all that comes with it. The author made me think a littler a deeper but also laugh a little harder and I finished it all with a smile and sense of pride in our nation and more specifically, my hometown Kansas City. Bravo.
1 review
April 28, 2023
A surprising, open-hearted look at America from the ground. I really appreciated the personal-is-political approach to our divisive politics. Feel timeless and special, and good representation for LGBTQ+ narrative nonfiction.
Profile Image for Anthony.
Author 27 books153 followers
April 15, 2023
The Review

This was a compelling and thoughtful read. The author does an amazing job of tapping into the heart of the American tapestry, showcasing that despite a vastly different look at the same subject, people from all over share far more in common than we believe. The discoveries the author makes, from the use of specific terminology being the dividing line that keeps rural farmers and progressive city dwellers from being on the same page concerning everything from climate change to how different national politics can be from local, community-driven politics and policies, really kept the reader invested in the author’s journey.

To me, the heart of this book rests in both the author’s hopeful tone throughout his writing and the balance of personal experiences with enriching interviews with a variety of people. The divide that exists in our world today happens so often because the negative, harsh voices are often the loudest, and yet through this book the author shows the hopeful tone that rests underneath the current of negativity, and the relatable journey he takes both himself and through his discussions with people of all walks of life made this such a compelling book to behold.

The Verdict

Heartfelt, memorable, and engaging, author Ryan Bernsten’s “50 States of Mind: A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy” is a must-read nonfiction read that blends the discovery of travel with the introspective nature of getting to know others and their varied perspectives. The heart and passion in the author’s writing and the thoughtful approach to this subject will keep readers enthralled as the story unfolds.
Profile Image for Anissa Kuhar.
30 reviews
December 26, 2023
I met Ryan Bernsten at a book signing in Rockford, IL, his home town and mine. I was eager to hear about the journey of a young, relatively recent college graduate because I am a teacher of college students. I love how Bernsten paralleled his journey to that of Alexis de Tocqueville and made a curious attempt to learn about the world by talking to people from all states and political perspectives.

Bernsten opened his mind by attending both Republican rallies and Democratic events. He sought to understand the political issues from both angles. In most cases, he was received with a welcome from those with different backgrounds. Unfortunately, he had at least one disappointing encounter which could have altered the outcome of his journey and the judgement of his country. Bernsten, however, escaped the Southwest safely and folded the ugly experience into the story that shapes his message of hope.

The idea that stood out most was that people need to connect with members of their community to understand each other and make a difference where they live. Community is created when you connect with and support your neighbors. I appreciated that message of hope. Alternatively, I felt like the road trip abruptly ended and the reader had to create a conclusion from this loose ends. I would have liked to see a recap of key points that brought Bernsten to the conclusion that hope remains in the world.

Overall, the book read like a diary hitting the highlights of a young person’s road trip. It was entertaining and informative for a first-time book author.
Profile Image for Kristina.
230 reviews11 followers
January 26, 2024
I decided to read (technically listen to) this book after seeing Ryan speak at my local library. I thought the book would be a lot more political in nature (especially since he was a campaign worker) but it's a bit more of a memoir of his travels than anything. I found it fascinating. I've lived in or near several of the towns he visited so it was interesting to read of them from his outsider perspective. My ultimate takeaway from this book is to stop focusing so much on the doom and gloom of mainstream media (and social media) and instead focus more on our own communities and how we can get involved in them. I currently live in a small town (36k) in Wisconsin and felt personally vindicated when Ryan said more liberals need to move to key swing states like Wisconsin and also to smaller towns over bigger cities. So thanks for validating my life choices, Ryan!
Profile Image for Angela Bumstead.
4 reviews1 follower
September 12, 2023
Absolutely loved this book! I really enjoyed the author's raw honesty, hilarious stories, and refreshing perspective of empathy and trying to understand others who may have a different perspective than you.

As an avid traveler myself, the idea of finding the beauty in every place and how communities of each state wanting to show the author the cultural aspects they were most proud of really rang true to me.

Overall this was a great listen! I loved the audiobook and being able to hear the story from the author through his voice.
71 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2023
False advertising on this. Where is the democracy that’s being rediscovered? Bernsten keeps mentioning de Tocqueville as if there’s a link between the two of them - there’s not. If de Tocqueville wrote as poorly and confusingly as Bernsten he’d be unknown. Sorry I wasted my time on this book
1 review
April 28, 2023
Really loved this book. I learned so much about the US and the division on the ground (or lack thereof!). Really hope other people read this book - you might learn something!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews

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