States of Denial; a Midwest in Economic Distress Needs to Face Its Global Challenge

Summary

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When he set out to write his latest book on globalization, Richard Longworth wanted to learn the state of affairs in the American Midwest -- the expanse of factory cities and farm towns known as the Heartland.

And one of the first things the Chicagoan discovered -- after putting 11,000 miles on his car -- was that no one else previously has bothered to ask, certainly not in the comprehensive sense that Longworth had in mind.

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States of Denial; a Midwest in Economic Distress Needs to Face Its Global Challenge

His findings might change that.

"So far, the Midwest is failing the global challenge," he writes in "Caught in the Middle: America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism" (Bloomsbury, 307 pages, $25.95).

Many cities and towns just won't make it, he suggests matter-of- factly.

"Detroit certainly won't. Cleveland probably won't. St. Louis and Milwaukee may not. Others, such as Indianapolis and Grand Rapids, may succeed."

Many parts of the region aren't quite aware of what's hitting them, much less how to react. They'll keep their h...

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