America 51: A Probe into the Realities That Are Hiding Inside “The Greatest Country in the World”

Corey Taylor is lead singer for the bands Slipknot and Stone Sour. His opinions on our country and culture may be less known, but this may soon change. America 51 starts off on what one could call an anti-Trump polemic but is really a double barreled shot at both political parties. Taylor sounds off on myths that have passed as reality in our past decades, examining the allure of Ronald Reagan, why some still idolize the 40th president despite the contradictions of his eight-year term. Taylor is emphatic in how style over substance rules the political landscape. Taylor makes incisive points about the faults of the Republican and Democratic parties and how Donald Trump managed to shock the country and world in his electoral victory. Each chapter cuts to the heart of the matter, with funny and heartfelt anecdotes. The divisions in the country are highlighted, but the elusive answers almost seem to be grasped when Taylor articulates them.

America 51 is a truly enjoyable book from start to finish. The author offers a fresh take on our country’s faults and strengths, while not holding back on the politicians and others who dwell on the divisiveness. This may not be easy reading for the hardcore conservative or liberal, but that may just be the point. It is a book with a tough message for the masses: look within.