Dennis Johnson

This book was crash published by Melville House - born as an idea right after the election and printed and available by the inauguration - and I love them for that. It is a diverse collection of essays from American progressive leaders of all stripes - ranging from policy specific to reassurance and calls to self-care, focusing on the role of the arts, the Democratic party, the media, and individual citizens. There is history and rage and perspective and strategy and hope.

The rush to publish show more shows only in the repetitiveness of some of the essays, but the collection here is quite impressive. Reading this book in the days leading up to the inauguration was a balm. I love all the different approaches in this book. The essays in the Religious Freedom section filled me with moral purpose, then there's Robert Reich's scattershot list of possible action ideas.

I also need to take a moment to say ow much I like the design of this book, particularly the black back cover with its large block quote: "If you make yourself a sheep, the wolves will eat you." - Benjamin Franklin. I want to spend lots more time in public reading this book.

I praise this book highly. Whether you're looking for action, inspiration, leaders to support, or just not to feel alone in your despair and concern -- I highly recommend it. show less

A quick read that is, both, still helpful and a bit regretful in that it was published at the onset of the Trump presidency, and many of the things the writers in this essay collection warned about have already come to pass. I just came upon it at our local library and, with a list of contributors that includes Elizabeth Warren, George Saunders, Bill McKibben, Bernie Sanders, Ilhan Omar, Dave Eggers, and Gloria Steinhem, I felt compelled to give it a shot.

The concerns the contributing show more essayists provide are painfully valid, as the past 2.5 years have frightfully proven. They worry that Trump may try to roll back environmental regulations, ignore climate change warnings, try to ban Muslims, incite racial divisiveness and violence, and try to send legal immigrants back to their countries of origin.

The book serves as a call to action, on many fronts. With the book broken into chapters on topics (Civil Liberties, Women's Rights, LGBTQ Rights, Racial Justice, Religious Freedoms, etc), and containing 2-3 essays under each of these it's easy to read the book and get overwhelmed at all we've now lost, all there is to regain, and how much must be done to do so. It's disheartening to read in many ways, but encouraging to hear these voices of hope and - perhaps - realize we're not too late to repair at least some of the damage done. But each day, as a trade war currently ramps up, the Amazon rainforest burns, and children stand in cages near our border, it's a bit hard to see where we begin. It's like "Crisis Whack-a-Mole". We can put our finger in the hole in the dam, but there are now so many damn holes, and only so many fingers.

Dave Eggers sums things up well in his closing "Coda" chapter titled "The Old Rules No Longer Apply". He says it's as if, as a collective, the American people said, "We've had enough decency for one decade. Give us chaos." He closes with a warning that has become all too prescient. "We are speeding toward a dark corridor, my friends. Keep your eyes open, your hearts stout, and be ready for the fight." show less

I might have given this book 5 stars had I read it between November 9, 2016 and the end of 2016, perhaps even until January 19, 2017. But I read it after the inauguration. And all I could think of as I read was What would you all say now?!!! It’s so, so much worse than most thought it would be.

So I give it 3 stars. 3 ½ I guess. It was hard to read during this administration because I was so upset. I have been since November 8, 2016 but even my imagination didn’t envision all that’s show more happened in the last less than 3 months.

All the contributors are great and there was some solace reading essays from such brilliant and passionate and caring people. They are all experts in their topics and I appreciated that.

Recommended for reading before 1/20/17. Now, it’s sadly dated. There are still cogent points and plans and arguments, and hopefully most (including the earth) will survive long enough to find them useful after 2018 and/or 2020.

Most individual essays are really worth 5 or at least 4 stars but reading the book in its entirety at this point I found too depressing to rate it with more than 3 stars. show less

I received this as an ARC/eGalley from the publisher.

This collection is comprised of easily digestible speeches, essays, and letters from prominent figures imploring the progressive public to resist complacency and depression in the next Presidential administration. The theme is clear: We are the majority, you are not alone, and we need to stick together.

While this is geared towards the general "liberal" demographic, much of this reads as a primer for the dismayed white voter who has been show more jolted into grassroots activism as a result of the 2016 US Election. To that aim, it's an excellent way to focus one's thoughts without getting overwhelmed by the onslaught of social media commentary, blogs, and editorials. I would caution against this being the ONLY read on the subject, though. I suggest interested readers and community members combine this with reading many other writings from POC and LGBTQ activists over the past several decades.

(Review was originally posted on Edelweiss on January 4, 2017.) show less