An important book, exploring where we are as a country right now. This is written by someone who was known for his conservative views, but who has moved more to the center. I like reading various points of view, at least from people who are well-spoken and open to other viewpoints (as opposed to “my way or the highway”). Mr. French writes about the divisions in our country and how important it is that we find a way to come together for the common good. He presents two disturbing secession scenarios, picturing what would happen if current trends on divisive issues went to extremes.

I didn’t learn anything startlingly new but it is a well-written argument for embracing our diversity and tolerance/acceptance (diversity of opinion, ethnicity, religion, etc.). He hearkens back to James Madison’s advice on how to deal with factions: pluralism. Unfortunately, in our current two-party system, “compromise” has become a dirty word in Congress, so I don’t hold out that much hope for Mr. French’s prescription. However, coincidentally, today former Vice President Biden made a speech emphasizing the need for our nation to come together in a common purpose. Let us hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am a Democrat and do not share the conservative beliefs of the author. However, I like to read things from people who have views that differ from mine. I do agree that we are divided as a nation and need to come together for the common good. This book was well written and provided me with insight from the other side and shows that not everyone that disagrees resorts to insults or namecalling.

The phrase “United We Stand, Divided We Fall” has a long history in the United States. The earliest reference is in a song called “The Liberty Song” by John Dickenson published in 1768. For our purposes though the most poignant use may have been in 1799. The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were dividing the new nation. These Resolutions, which would plague America until the onset of the Civil War, were written in opposition of the Alien and Sedition Acts. Penned in secret by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, these Resolutions argued that individual states had the right to nullify Federal laws that the state deemed to be unconstitutional. These resolutions horrified George Washington who asked his old friend Patrick Henry to step in the gap and oppose them. Washington knew that the request was odd. After all, Henry had been one of the most influential voices opposing the Constitution and the government it created. Henry was sixty-three years old and in failing health. Still he took Washington’s challenge and issued forth to defend the young nation. At his final public speech Henry attacked those who wrote the Resolutions and defended the young nation. He ended with "United we stand, divided we fall. Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our very existence hangs." The old orator had to be helped from the building and died two months later. 

Now I do not think it is an insult to David French to say that he is no Patrick Henry. I like to think that the great orator would have approved of French’s new book Divided We Fall. David French, senior writer at The Dispatch, is calling out the same warning that was heard so long ago at a college campus in Virginia. “We cannot assume that a continent-sized, multi-ethnic, multi-faith democracy can remain united forever, and it will not remain united if our political class cannot and will not adapt to an increasingly diverse and divided American public.” With these words he launches into this timely book. First of all what this book is not is an attempt to make all Americans agree and “become one.” Rather it is a call for us to embrace our diversity and our pluralism and learn to live together once again. It is a cry to end the polarization and to move towards each other instead of moving away. 

In the first part of the book French outlines the move towards division. He shows that many Americans have begun to move to states and cities that they feel more reflect their own ideas. This leads people in places like California to relocate to Tennessee or Texas. It also leads people from Texas and Tennessee to move to California. The mobilization is leading to an increased polarization between Red and Blue states as the populations become less diverse. The internet has also made it easier for the nation to polarize. Now our friendship circles are no longer defined by work, church, and clubs. Instead we find others who think like us on the internet and create our own communities that reinforce our preconceived notions. These and other issues that French lay out help to explain the ever increasing divide in America.
The second part of the book is an interesting exercise. In this section French lays out a couple of theoretical scenarios that end with the United States splitting into multiple countries. In the first scenario liberal states angered by a buffoon in the White House eventually sever from the US, setting their own countries. The second scenario does the same, but with Texas and other Southern and Western states breaking from a liberal government run. I have to say that I found this section less than compelling. French is a delightful writer and a wonderful person, but his skills like more towards the law and less towards dystopian literature. I don’t see the scenarios breaking down as neatly as he lays it out. First of all, while I agree that the nation has done a good deal of self-sorting I’m not sure that it is so extreme that it’s quite ready to split apart on state lines. Though these scenarios are more about the fears that drive those on the left and the right.
The final section of the book provides ideas for how we can bridge these divides and bring the nation back together. The most important thing that we can do is to build on the foundations of pluralism and tolerance. We need to defend the rights of others as we would defend our own rights. It is not enough for me to defend my own right to speak, to protest, to worship. I must also defend the rights of those whose views I disagree. This idea of a neutral system where all are free to assemble and speak as they believe brought controversy on French last year when he was attacked from the Right for not wishing to force others to hide their lifestyle. The very essence of a free society is that its citizens have to tolerate those whose views differ. You don’t have to like the ideas, but you do have to tolerate their existence in the public square. 
Divided We Fall is well written and French pours his heart into the book. In this time of increased polarization we need more calls to live in unity. Not the unity of a monoculture where we all think and act the same, but a unity of purpose to allow freedom to others to live and think and speak as they see fit while you do the same. It’s the same dream that another great orator shared in 1963. The dream of a place where “Black men and White men, Jew and Gentile, Protestant and Catholic” and David French would add, atheist and Muslim, men and women, straight and gay, liberal and conservative can be free and can join hands together. Is that too much to believe in. French doesn’t think so.

I was very interested in this book, mainly since the author is of evangelical and conservative beliefs. While neither of these positions in todays news cycle are particularly shown as positive I was curious to read this book. While the telling of this book is even handed and it shows neither side as being more right than the other. But what it does do is quietly and calmly share the wide differences and the possibilities of changing the great divide between the "them or us" mentality by going back to Madison's writings in "The Federalists Papers" about the violence of factions, and a return to pluralism and tolerance. It certainly seems easy to put a label such as "right wing extremists or left wing crazies" but there are some people that don't embrace the name calling and hatred for those that have a different opinion. I appreciate Mr. French taking the time to share his opinions.

Americans, Read This Book. Now. Quite simply, I've yet to encounter a more important book for every American to read *immediately*, and *particularly* before you vote in the General Election this fall. French does a solid job detailing the stark realities of exactly where we are as a nation politically, and where we've been. He then dedicates just three chapters to some of the most disturbing things I've ever read, - and I've read books that would make even an Iraq War veteran like French puke his guts out in their explicit horror. In two of these three chapters, French presents two scenarios for a complete dissolution of the United States of America - one from the right, one from the left. And what makes these scenarios so disturbing? I'm writing this review on July 4th, 2020. The book actually publishes (so far at least) on September 22, 2020. *Either of these scenarios could plausibly happen in between me writing this review and most of you being able to read this book.* After presenting these scenarios in all their horror, French then spends the back third of the book detailing how we can prevent them from happening. While he ultimately only has two real recommendations - neither easy and arguably neither directly feasible in this moment, but both things we can commit to working towards - they are both things that could actually work, if indeed Americans want to save America. Very much recommended.