Book excerpt: The popular comedian, social commentator, and star of Red State Blue State tackles the condition of our union today: “Thoroughly entertaining.” —Booklist (starred review) Utah: The Church of States Vermont: The Old Hippie State Florida: The Hot Mess State Arizona: The Instagram Model State Wisconsin: The Diet Starts Tomorrow State The United States is in a fifty-states-wide couples’ counseling session, thinking about filing for divorce. But is that really what we want? Can a nation composed of states that are so different possibly hang together? Colin Quinn, writer and star of Red State Blue State and Unconstitutional, calls us out state-by-state, from Connecticut to Hawaii. He identifies the hypocrisies inherent in what we claim to believe and what we actually do. Within a framework of big-picture thinking about systems of government—after all, how would you put this country together if you started from scratch today?—to dead-on observations about the quirks and vibes of the citizens in each region, Overstated skewers us all: red, blue, and purple. Ultimately, it’s infused with the same blend of optimism and practicality that sparked the United States into being. “The author lands his punches [and] spares neither right- nor left-leaning terrain.” —Kirkus Reviews “Quinn pulls off the remarkable feat of being both very informative and thoroughly entertaining. This delightful read is highly recommended.” —Booklist (starred review)