Kansas Books
Discover the best books about Kansas, from Marilynne Robinson’s Pulitzer-winning *Gilead* and Truman Capote’s true-crime classic *In Cold Blood* to Thomas Frank’s sharp political analysis in *What’s the Matter with Kansas?*. This curated reading list explores the Sunflower State through fiction, history, and memoir—perfect for Kansas readers, book clubs, and anyone seeking deep-dive literary takes on Midwestern life, culture, and the American heartland.
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Gilead
by Marilynne Robinson
In 1956, toward the end of his life, Reverend John Ames begins a letter to his young son, sharing the story of his life and explaining how his faith influenced his choices and actions.
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In Cold Blood
by Truman Capote
Recounts the slaying of the Clutter family of Kansas, and the capture, trial and execution of their murderers.
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What's the Matter with Kansas?
by Thomas Frank
With a New Afterword by the Author The New York Times bestseller, praised as "hilariously funny . . . the only way to understand why so many Americans have decided to vote against their own economic and political interests" (Molly Ivins) Hailed as "dazzlingly insightful and wonderfully sardonic" (Chicago Tribune), "very funny and very painful" (San Francisco Chronicle), and "in a different league from most political books" (The New York Observer), What's the Matter with Kansas? unravels the great political mystery of our day: Why do so many Americans vote against their economic and social interests? With his acclaimed wit and acuity, Thomas Frank answers the riddle by examining his home state, Kansas-a place once famous for its radicalism that now ranks among the nation's most eager participants in the culture wars. Charting what he calls the "thirty-year backlash"-the popular revolt against a supposedly liberal establishment-Frank reveals how conservatism, once a marker of class privilege, became the creed of millions of ordinary Americans. A brilliant analysis-and funny to boot-What's the Matter with Kansas? is a vivid portrait of an upside-down world where blue-collar patriots recite the Pledge while they strangle their life chances; where small farmers cast their votes for a Wall Street order that will eventually push them off their land; and where a group of frat boys, lawyers, and CEOs has managed to convince the country that it speaks on behalf of the People.
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The Worst Hard Time The Untold Story Of Those Who Survived The Great American Dust Bowl
No summary available.
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Henry David Thoreau: Collected Essays and Poems (LOA #124)
by Henry David Thoreau
A collection of essential writings features Thoreau's poetry and essays on nature, materialism, conformity, and politics; including such works as "Slavery in Massachusetts," "Civil Disobedience," "A Winter Walk," and "Life Without Principle."
