Category: Series: Big Sort (Book Discussion)
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Big Sort: The Psychology of the Tribe
(Link to Part 2) In The Big Sort, people have geographically sorted themselves into like-minded communities over the past fifty years. What are the social-psychological consequences of such a phenomenon? Bishop presents something called the “Risky Shit” effect. People have an innate need to find safety in groups. He reviews studies like the one where…
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Big Sort: Geography vs. Demography
(Link to Part 1) Bill Bishop opens his book The Big Sort, illustrating how counties have become more politically homogeneous. However, he points out that people generally didn't choose to move where they did based on political criteria. They tended to move to places where they felt comfortable, and their identity was reinforced. People with…
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The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing us Apart
Today I'm initiating a series of posts on The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America is Tearing us Apart. This book was published last year by journalist Bill Bishop and relies heavily on statistical analysis provided by retired University of Texas sociologist Robert G. Cushing. Their conclusions are somewhat controversial, but I believe…