Storm Lake

A Chronicle of Change, Resilience, and Hope from a Heartland Newspaper

By: Art Cullen

Narrated by: Chris Henry Coffey

"A reminder that even the smallest newspapers can hold the most powerful among us accountable."—The New York Times Book Review

Watch the documentary Storm Lake on PBS.

Iowa plays an outsize role in national politics. Iowa introduced Barack Obama and voted bigly for Donald Trump. But is it a bellwether for America, a harbinger of its future? Art Cullen’s answer is complicated and honest. In truth, Iowa is losing ground. The Trump trade wars are hammering farmers and manufacturers. Health insurance premiums and drug prices are soaring. That’s what Iowans are dealing with, and the problems they face are the problems of the heartland.

In this candid and timely book, Art Cullen—the Storm Lake Times newspaperman who won a Pulitzer Prize for taking on big corporate agri-industry and its poisoning of local rivers—describes how the heartland has changed dramatically over his career. In a story where politics, agri­culture, the environment, and immigration all converge, Cullen offers an unsentimental ode to rural America and to the resilient people of a vibrant community of fifteen thousand in Northwest Iowa, as much sur­vivors as their town.

More than a story about people

We have “raped” our mother. And while self-correcting, she is not happy and will extract a price for our greed. That debt, I fear, will take thousands of years to pay - if ever.

A great story.

Art showed so much respect and honesty as he described a cast of characters that make up any rural community. He has a great objectivity and understanding of the twists, turns, and motivations behind the history and journeys of all the people.
So enjoyable!!!