Beyond Election Anxiety: Essential Reads for a Polarized America
7 recent books point toward a hopeful future.
With only days left in a deadlocked presidential race, it can be tempting to give in to rank pessimism. Whatever happens on Election Day, millions of Americans are likely to be distrustful of the result, and of one another. It’s enough to make you despair for the future of our country — even, perhaps, for our species.
So we thought we’d round up some recent books that offer a ray of hope, stories of ordinary people doing their part to build a better society. Check out our summaries below, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, From the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement
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From America’s favorite government teacher, a heartfelt, inspiring portrait of twelve ordinary Americans whose courage formed the character of our country. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Sharon McMahon, in the Next Big Idea App.
Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right
By Arlie Russell Hochschild
In her first book since the widely acclaimed Strangers in Their Own Land, the National Book Award finalist and bestselling author Arlie Russell Hochschild now ventures to Appalachia, uncovering the “pride paradox” that has given the right’s appeals such resonance. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Arlie Russell Hochschild, in the Next Big Idea App or read Hillbilly Eulogy, our post about Arlie’s book.
By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land
By Rebecca Nagle
A powerful work of reportage and American history that braids the story of the forced removal of Native Americans onto treaty lands in the nation’s earliest days, and a small-town murder in the ‘90s that led to a Supreme Court ruling reaffirming Native rights to that land over a century later. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Rebecca Nagle, in the Next Big Idea App.
Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives
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&A whip-smart combo of self-help and political manifesto that is perfect for anyone who wants to save our democracy but doesn’t know where to start. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Sami Sage and Emily Amick, in the Next Big Idea App.
The Truth About Immigration: Why Successful Societies Welcome Newcomers
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This book is all about how newcomers benefit you, your community, and your country. Skeptics fear that newcomers compete economically with locals because of their similarities and fail to socially assimilate because of their differences. You’ll see that it’s exactly the opposite. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Zeke Hernandez, in the Next Big Idea App or read “They’re Eating Our Pets?!”, our post about Zeke’s book.
Good People: Stories From the Best of Humanity
By Gabriel Reilich & Lucia Knell
Embrace—and share—the transformative power of kindness through stories of more than one hundred good people, brought to you by Upworthy, the beloved social media platform where millions find inspiration, joy, and daily affirmation. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by co-authors Gabriel Reilich and Lucia Knell, in the Next Big Idea App.
Should We Go Extinct?: A Philosophical Dilemma for Our Unbearable Times
By Todd May
A renowned philosopher and advisor to NBC’s The Good Place offers a thoughtful exploration of humanity’s future—or lack thereof. May sketches a powerful framework for establishing our responsibilities as a species and gives hope that we might one day find universal agreement that the answer to his title question should be No. Listen to our Book Bite summary, read by author Todd May, in the Next Big Idea App.