Want to Start a Voting Revolution? Read these 3 Books. Before the Next Election.
If you don’t prep yourself, you’re just voting the way someone else wants you to vote. You're a cog in the machine. Educate yourself.
It’s that season again. Voting season.
Four score and seven, of the people, by the people, and for the peoples’ ago, Lincoln stood and delivered a carefully prepared and thoughtful speech — yes, that whole back-of-the-envelope-thing isn’t true — and reminded us that democracy and a representative government are tough. Blood was spilled and spattered. And now, every four years or so, it is our responsibility, and even our duty to go vote, to do our part to ensure democracy remains strong.
The battle for democracy isn’t over and will never be over. It evolves with new parties, new players, and new methods of influence chipping away at society’s rights and freedoms.
It’s our job to fight. The best way to fight is to educate yourself. Understand the key topics. Understand the journey we have taken and the sacrifices that have been made.
Become an informed voter. It’s your job as a citizen. Without education — self-education — you are voting for someone else. You are voting the way some Super Pac wants you to vote. You are voting the way some billionaire wants you to vote. You are voting the way TikTok, or X (Twitter), or YouTube, or Mommie-n-Daddie want you to vote.
But to vote for yourself, you have to think for yourself. Books help.
Here are three books that will help you think about politics, history, and society. Sounds boring and dry but these books are anything but. Trust me, as the politicians say. Read.
But first, a brief intermission…
Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.’
― Isaac Asimov
And back to our regularly scheduled program…
Democracy Awakening by Heather Cox Richardson
Authoritarianism is a style of politics where one leader or small group has all the power and uses it to their benefit. It could be several small groups. Billionaires buying your opinions. Courts ignoring legal precedents and ruling on personal biases. Small political sects spreading fear to control electorates. It’s not new. It starts small but grows quickly.
It is a manipulation of democracy.
Heather Cox Richardson is a respected political journalist and the founder of the Substack newsletter. ‘Letters from an American’. Yes, she could be described as a liberal but she writes like a historian. She’s smart and insightful. She’s researched her topics thoroughly and has been working in the political field for years. She’s accurate and truthful.
In this book, she details our current political landscape, our descent towards authoritarianism, its history, and the grassroots efforts it will take to defeat the trend and strengthen our democracy. Wow! That’s a lot.
Regardless of your political opinions or ideologies, this book is an important read. It’s based on facts. Read it and interpret it for yourself. Self-education requires an unbiased, thoughtful view of our history and our actions. This book is a good start. The insights gleaned are up to you. But you can’t ‘glean’ without reading.
This book also makes a clear comparison between Biden and Trump. Yes, Biden is no longer the candidate for the Democrats. But much of his team will continue on if Harris is elected. It could be viewed as a Biden philosophy vs. a Trump philosophy. Again, the facts are in this book. They are easily verified. The interpretations are yours. Clear your mind. Think about it.
Book Bonus: It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis — This is the audio version of this classic book. Listen to it on the way to work, or while you’re out for a run. It’s a classic for a reason. Or watch The Man in the High Castle. It’s just fun.
The Demon of Unrest by Erik Larson
This book is not perfect but well worth the read. It uses letters and diary entries from many of the main participants to showcase the mood and feelings of the citizens, political participants, and rabble-rousers. This paints a picture of the South and its inhabitants and leaves little doubt the Civil War was fought over a single issue; slavery.
The book details the time period between November 1860 to the start of the Civil War in April 1861. Lincoln was elected but had not yet taken office (he was sworn in in March of 1861). South Carolina seceded from the United States while James Buchanan was still President and began surrounding Fort Sumter. Angst, hubris, and indecision ruled the day.
The book tells its story via some of the major characters and players of the time. Major Robert Anderson is the commander of Fort Sumter, a former slave owner and sympathizer of the South, but extremely loyal to the Union. His story is told through historical documents and letters between him and his wife. Other characters such as; James Hammond, a wealthy slave owner, child molester, and senator; Mary Chestnut, the wife of a senator and slave owner and prolific diarist; and Edmund Ruffin, an aged attention-seeking slave owner running around the South espousing secession are told in parallel. These accounts are detailed, documented, and entertaining.
Larson portrays the Sumter conflict as a direct confrontation between a small group of privileged white men in Washington, and Charleston, driven by ego, and a mano a mano complex, and the wider, majority of public sentiment in the North and South against slavery and Secessionists.
We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose. If we fail it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves. — Abraham Lincoln, remark to his private secretary John Hay, May 1861
The book aims to provide a complete overview of these events but it would’ve been better with more emphasis on Frederick Douglas and other black leaders and their significant contributions during the time period.
Bonus book: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin — instant classic and the basis of the Spielberg movie, Lincoln, by a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.
The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil by George Saunders
Sometimes fiction tells the story better. This one slams it all together. There’s political satire, humor, fantasy, and surrealism. It’ll make you laugh, scratch your head, and say, “How’d he think of that?”. It’ll also petrify you.
And it will sound all so familiar.
Though firm, we are never too firm, though we love fun, we never have fun in a silly way that makes us appear ridiculous, unless that is our intent.
― George Saunders, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil
Or maybe not. Regardless, we need to be exposed to different people, different thoughts, and in different story-telling formats.
This delivers all
It’s a short read. You can finish it in an afternoon of reading. Grab some coffee, expresso, or shot of tequila, sit on the patio, and read. You’ll be entertained.
And you’ll get smarter.
Book bonus: Animal Farm — If your only exposure to this book was from a high school reading list, try it again. It’s worth it and the timing may be right. Regardless, it’s an important book, and as American as you can get, even though it’s written by a Brit.
Go ahead and register here to vote. It’s your right. But it’s just the first step. You gotta prep yourself.
If you want to check out some great reading list and see which books have influenced, surprised, educated, and entertained me, check out my book shop here. The lists grow monthly and I don’t recommend any books I haven’t personally read. Or use my book recommendation engine and specific author chatbots. They’re fun. I mean you can talk to Dostoevsky.
The books in this article are affiliate links. It doesn’t cost you anything extra. Hope you enjoy the reads.