Can empathy reverse the widening partisan gap plaguing American politics? In A Decent Meal, Michael Carolan makes the case that food can act as a catalyst for building empathy and bridging group identities through exposure to new experiences. Carolan acknowledges the social science literature that establishes partisanship as a powerful source of identity but argues that appeals to “heartland” (values and emotions) can help bridge the gap between out-partisans and create more empathy for difference.

The evidence in this book pulls from experiments designed by the author involving participants, recruited for their demographics and political attitudes, participating in an activity designed to put them in an unfamiliar situation. The author conducts both pre- and post- interviews, when possible, to ascertain attitude changes in participants.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given the book’s main topic—empathy—the book can read as empathetic toward extremists and racists. The author does not condone these attitudes but is interested in how to expose these individuals to other viewpoints in a way that they might allow them to be receptive. For instance, anti-immigrant individuals were invited attend a “berry boot camp” doing farm labor. By the end of the experience, individuals reported more favorable attitudes tow