Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein - A Book Review

I picked up "Why We're Polarized" by Ezra Klein partly out of curiosity and partly out of self-preservation. Having moved from Singapore to the Bay Area, I found myself completely bewildered by American political conversations. In Singapore, politics exists, sure, but it does not consume every dinner party, every family group chat, every random interaction at the grocery store the way it seems to here. I needed a framework to understand what was happening, and Klein's book turned out to be a genuinely helpful one.

What the book covers

Klein traces the history of political polarization in the US all the way back to the Civil War, which I found fascinating. I have to admit, my understanding of American political history was embarrassingly shallow before this — I knew the broad strokes but not the mechanics of how the parties sorted themselves into the ideological camps we see today.

His argument rests on three main drivers:

Demographic change. America is becoming more racially and ethnically diverse, and this is reshaping the political landscape. Klein backs this up with data showing how these shifts are changing party identification. Coming from Southeast Asia, where ethnic diversity is just the default (Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia — we are all navigating multi-ethnic societies in our own ways), it was interesting to see how differently demographic change plays out in a two-party system.

Geographic sorting. People are increasingly choosing to live near like-minded people. This one hit close to home for me. The Bay Area is famously progressive, and I have to say — after living here for a while, I can see how easy it is to assume everyone thinks the same way. When I visit other parts of the US, the contrast is stark. Klein argues this creates more politically homogeneous communities that reinforce existing beliefs, and I think he is right about that.

Media echo chambers. The rise of cable news and social media has made it possible to consume only information that confirms what you already believe. I think this is the most relatable part of the book for anyone who has spent time scrolling through their phone. Klein is good at explaining this without being preachy about it — he is a journalist himself, so he has a clear-eyed view of how media incentives work.

What I liked

Klein is a rigorous thinker. The book is dense with data and research, but he writes in a way that keeps it readable — no small feat. I might be wrong, but I think this is the kind of book that would be useful regardless of where you sit politically. He is not trying to assign blame to one side. He is trying to explain the system itself, and I found that refreshing.

What I think is missing

If I have a criticism, it is that the book is very US-centric (which, fair enough, it is about American polarization). But from my perspective as someone who has lived in multiple countries, I kept wanting him to explore whether these dynamics are unique to the US or part of a broader global trend. I see similar patterns in Southeast Asian politics, in European elections, even in online discourse everywhere. I think there is a bigger story here that Klein only gestures at.

Who should read this

If you are an expat living in the US and find yourself confused by the intensity of American political divisions, this book is a solid starting point. It will not tell you what to think, but it will help you understand the structural forces at play. And if you are American and wondering why Thanksgiving dinner has become a minefield — well, Klein has some answers for that too :P

Have you read this one? I would love to hear how it landed for you, especially if you are reading it from outside the US.

Cheers,

Chandler