Vowell’s books have often investigated the Americans (or colonists) venturing into a new, expanding world. But previously they felt fairly isolated, and more quirky underdogs. In this book, the US has embarked onto its imperial phase, and by the end the full force of Washington is bearing down on the territories it has captured. This makes for a different kind of read than her other works; not necessarily worse, but one I couldn’t gain as much traction. The overall story is still interesting, and it makes me angry that I have no more Vowell books to listen to while road tripping through These United States