The Undertow by Jeff Sharlet

The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War | Jeff Sharlet

The Undertow is a chilling and lyrical investigation into the unraveling fabric of American democracy, written by acclaimed journalist Jeff Sharlet. Known for his deep reporting on religion and politics, Sharlet travels across a divided nation, chronicling a decade of social fragmentation and the rising tide of authoritarian sentiment in the U.S.

This is not just reportage—it is a haunting meditation on what it means to live through a slow civil war.

With scenes from churches turned battlegrounds and rallies infused with apocalyptic fervor, Sharlet unearths the theological and cultural forces fueling the modern far right.

From the canonization of Ashli Babbitt to incel conferences and megachurches that glorify conflict, he reveals how paranoia, spiritual manipulation, and white grievance have evolved into a volatile national ideology.

And yet, amid the chaos, he also finds hope in quiet acts of resistance, community, and a vision of an America yet to be fully born.

Awards & Praise:

An instant New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, The Undertow was named one of the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2023 and one of The New Republic’s Best Books of 2023. Called “a riveting, vividly detailed collage of political and moral derangement” by Joseph O’Neill in the New York Times Book Review.

Recommended Titles:

For readers drawn to American politics, extremism, or cultural critique, consider pairing with This Land Is Our Land by Suketu Mehta, Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russell Hochschild, or The Family, also by Jeff Sharlet.