Exurbia Now

Praise for Exurbia Now:

"An incredibly absorbing, essential and personal portrait of our nation's growing political divide, Exurbia Now takes the reader on a rare, eye-opening journey through cultural upheavals on the outskirts of our cities. At once moving and disturbing, rarely has a book been so timely, and convincing." - JEFF BIGGERS, author of State Out of the Union: Arizona and the Final Showdown Over the American Dream

“Reading this book, it’s absolutely clear how the far right has managed to transform extant suburban fears of economic and social upheaval into conspiracy theories, paranoia, and authoritarian ideation. This is an enlightening and discomfiting look at how the place I spent much of my life in is becoming unrecognizable.” — MIKE ROTHSCHILD, author of The Storm Is Upon Us

“David Masciotra delivers an introspective tour de force that lays bare the cultural and political underpinnings of exurbia. Exurbia Now is a history of places elite Democrats frequently misunderstand, an urgent reassessment of strategies that can win hearts and minds there, and a call to action for  liberals who love small towns and want to stay and fight.”  — DAVID FARIS, author of It’s Time to Fight Dirty

“An expressionistic ramble through the all-American countryside, out there beyond the cities and the suburbs, that brought us MAGA hats, megachurches and sedition—yet still offers hope, and the prospect of renewal. There is passion in David Masciotra’s writing, but not hate. He loves his country—just not blindly.” — JOHN A. FARRELL, author of Richard Nixon: The Life


Praise for Mellencamp: American Troubadour (University Press of Kentucky)

"David Masciotra writes with the precision and integrity and humanity of a great journalist, one whose word you can trust. He knows his subject, and his prose and reporting are always informed by the lights of compassion and decency. — James Lee Burke, author of Wayfaring Stranger

Praise for Working On a Dream: The Progressive Political Vision of Bruce Springsteen

“Insightful, brilliant at times.” – In These Times

“Musical journalism definitely well-worth reading.” – Morning Star (UK)

“This book gives you the hope that music can challenge people and help change their situations.” – Family First (UK)

Praise for Metallica by Metallica


“A godsend for Metallica fans…Masciotra outs himself as a major metal aficionado from page one and goes to great pains throughout the book to constantly place Metallica’s work in the context of their predecessors, contemporaries, and successors … Masciotra’s The Black Album is an informative book that heavy metal fans and readers interested in learning more about Metallica will certainly enjoy.” – Consequence of Sound

“Metallica engendered so much musical change that it deserves a certain level of intellectual analysis … always interesting summary of an album whose impact is, improbably, still being felt.” – Joel McIver, Record Collector Magazine