10 Books to Understand the 2020 US Presidential Election

Ahead of the 2020 US presidential election, an article on Artribune uses ten books published during the Trump presidency (2016-2020) to explore the political, social, and cultural dynamics shaping the race. The books are mapped onto key swing states and regions, offering a literary lens on issues like deindustrialization, immigration, racial tensions, and polarization. The selection includes Stephen Markley's 'Ohio' (set in the Rust Belt), Ocean Vuong's 'On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous' (Connecticut, immigrant experience), Sandra Newman's 'The Heavens' (New York, utopia/dystopia), Ben Lerner's 'The Topeka School' (Kansas, debate culture), Chris Offutt's 'Kentucky Straight' (rural Kentucky), Colson Whitehead's 'The Nickel Boys' (Florida, racial violence), Jeanine Cummins's 'American Dirt' (Mexico-US border, migration), Don Winslow's 'The Border' (narcotrafficking, politics), Emma Cline's 'The Girls' (California, 1960s counterculture), and Margaret Atwood's 'The Testaments' (Gilead, women's rights). The article notes that while polls favor Joe Biden (331 electoral votes vs. Trump's 207 per FiveThirtyEight), the Electoral College and swing states make the outcome uncertain. It highlights key demographics: Trump's base (white, rural, less educated) vs. Biden's (women, minorities, urban, educated). The COVID-19 pandemic and upcoming debates are cited as unpredictable factors.