If I were a southerner I might possibly be insulted by this book, the author can come across as very condescending, though, he might comes across as pretty condescending to anyone who doesn't read quality books or travel the world. I'm not sure if he means to but he does.
That said, the man has a way with words, he can describe the setting and the people in a way that almost, almost makes you feel like you're there and I do feel like I know more about The South than before.
It was great that he spent the time to visit the outlying areas, that he didn't spend his time in New Orleans or Charleston but went to the little towns that are trying to survive and talked to the people trying to help and the people trying to survive and the people who are working hard and making things better.
I'm going to have to visit the area myself to see if his vision runs true, or if he had preconceived notions that he found a way to substantiate but I guess that's what travel writing is all about, to inspire someone to go where they haven't gone before, and he's done that for me.