50 STATES OF MIND A Journey to Rediscover American Democracy

A 20-something Illinois native and graduate student at Oxford traveled the U.S., interviewing people in all 50 states to gain insight into the increasing divide between conservative-liberal and urban-rural extremes. Ryan Bernsten's performance captures the clarity of his writing and the spark in his perspectives. Having worked on Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, he was troubled by what was unleashed by its outcome. As he began his trip, he was unsure where he belonged as a gay man with literary, political, and theatrical sensibilities. What he learned confirmed that the essential goodness of people will help us get past the contentiousness the country is enduring. Especially touching is the author's warmth toward the people he encountered in his search for identity and community. T.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2023]