Book Review: Why We’re Polarized by Ezra Klein

This was an interesting read, that makes a compelling argument for the case that we are more polarized now than we have been in a while, but also balances that with the historical roots of polarization. Klein is clearly biased to the American left’s perspective, and often overlooked the actions that liberals and Democrats have taken to increase polarization.

As someone on the center right, I enjoyed reading this as a window into the left’s perspective on what the right has done wrong over the past 20 years or so. And I take to heart many of the points Klein makes. Specifically I have grown to see how poorly the right reacted to the election of Obama, and how that looked to those on the left. I think if you are anywhere in the center of the political spectrum this will be a good read for you.

That said, I found it a tad ironic that all of Klein’s policy prescriptions at the end of the book were more or less different versions of how to give his “side” more political power. And the last couple chapters as a whole felt like a recycling of old ideas, and common liberal troupes. Which is unfortunate, as Klein is clearly very intelligent, and a good portion of this book I could feel him pushing the boundaries of his ideological bubble. I would not recommend this book to people farther on the right. Klein’s refusal to honestly grapple with the things the left has done to increase polarization, and his retreating to his priors at the end, will cause rightward leaning readers to dismiss his whole argument, and possibly throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Overall I enjoyed the book, and appreciated the challenges it posed to my ideology. I only wish that Klein has devoted more of his intellectual firepower to make a more balanced analysis of what has brought us to the point we are at, and left out the sections talking about what we should do from here.