Recommended Reading
Politics Is for Power: How to Move Beyond Political Hobbyism, Take Action, and Make Real Change
This is a fantastic book that exposes how ineffective most of our forms of political engagement are in a world where politics has essentially become nothing but a spectator sport. Hersh helps us to see examples of what real political work looks like and inspires us to move away from the habit of reading headlines and feeling outrage and to step into the work of building real political power.
Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us
Alexander's basic thesis is simple: in the transition from monarchy to democracy, we went from subjects to whims of a ruler to consumers of the services of modern government and somewhere along the line, we lost what it means to be a citizen. Citizens share the burden of making society function for all, and Alexander calls us to this sense of responsibility. A consumer citizen only cares about and pays attention to government when it doesn't work in their interest, but a citizen consistently nurtures public services to reach and include everyone.
American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation and Could Again
A very important reminder of the purpose and design of our constitution, which is to create the conditions whereby disagreement can be productive and unity amidst diversity might still be possible.
Truth Matters: A Dialogue on Fruitful Disagreement in an Age of Division
A fantastic co-authored book by two renowned Princeton professors whose unusual friendship across the political divide helps to show the way forward in our time of polarization and contempt.
The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism
This is a provocative report on the funding, resources, and philosophy behind Christian nationalism in our current political culture and an important warning about where some extremists want to take the country.
A Different Kind of Power
The former Prime Minister of New Zealand and a woman raised in the LDS faith, Ardern describes her own efforts to create a kind of political culture and philosophy guided by kindness and respect for human decency. A compelling read.
Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy
A very compelling account of Christianity's problematic relationship with democracy, particularly with regard to the specter of Christian nationalism. Rauch, a gay atheist Jew, sees something promising as an alternative in the civic theology and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A must read.
High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out
This is a fascinating account of various individuals who have learned to transform high conflict—contemptuous, hateful, and polarizing anger—into productive disagreement and transformative dialogue.
The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism
A disturbing and important account of how whole swaths of American Christianity became politicized in ways that contradict the fundamental principles of Christian belief, told by an evangelical journalist.