I really enjoyed this book. I read an article a few years ago about the “11 American nations,” which was drawn from the basic ideas of this book. Short version: to really understand North America (and, more precisely, the United States of America), you need to understand the composition not of the 3 countries that form it, but of the 11 ethno-cultural nations that span state and country borders. In his book, Woodard traces the history of North America from the first Spanish and French colonies, all the way up to the 21st century, all through the lens of these 11 nations. (El Norte, New France, Yankeedom, New Netherland, Tidewater, the Deep South, the Midlands, Greater Appalachia, The Left Coast, the Far West, and the First Nation.) It’s an absolutely fascinating read, and while I have some quibbles with him here and there, I thought it was a well researched and well presented look into American history, with an occasional toe-dip into Canada and northern Mexico to round things out. My main qualm is that the book was written in 2011 – before Trump, before covid – and I really wish there were an updated 2nd edition that talks about the last dozen years. I’d recommend this book to anyone interested in American history or American current events.