Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want

Description

An optimistic book for Americans who are asking, in the wake of Trump's victory, What do we do now? The answer: We need to organize and fight to protect and expand our democracy. With our democracy in crisis, many Americans are frightened and uncertain. So, the legendary activist and author of Diet for a Small Planet, Frances Moore Lappe, and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen teamed up to tell the underreported story of a "movement of movements" arising to tackle the roots of the crisis. The authors view the Trump presidency as a symptom of a shocking anti-democracy movement and expose the events that drove us to this crisis. But their focus is on solutions: how people from all backgrounds, committed to an array of social-justice causes, are creating a canopy of hope, what Lappe and Eichen call the "democracy movement." To save the democracy we thought we had, argue the authors, we must take our civic life to a place it's never been. The arising democracy movement's innovative and inspiring strategies are enabling millions of Americans to feel part of something big, historic, and positive. Democracy is not only possible but essential to meet the most basic human needs for power, meaning, and connection; joining the democracy movement is thus a daring and noble undertaking calling each of us.

Frances Moore Lappe, author of the multimillion-selling Diet for a Small Planet and seventeen other books, is a recipient of the Right Livelihood Award, the "Alternative Nobel.";;"A small number of people in every generation are forerunners, in thought, action, spirit, who swerve past the barriers of greed and power to hold a torch high for the rest of us. Lappe is one of those.";-Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States;;Adam Eichen is a member of the Democracy Matters board of directors and a fellow at the Small Planet Institute. He is the co-author, with Frances Moore Lappe, of the new book Daring Democracy- Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want. He served as the deputy communications director for Democracy Spring.

"Countering what they call a well-entrenched 'Anti-Democracy Movement,' the authors offer numerous solutions for its antithesis, a democracy-proud confluence of grassroots efforts. . . .With specific plans of action and encouraging words of support, Lappe and Eichen extend concrete hope to those who feel politically helpless." -Booklist "Daring Democracy is a book deserving of the attention of everyone committed to the dream of a nation and a world that works for all." -Yes! Magazine "It is all too easy to fall into despair, but instead we can join the many others who are 'daring democracy' in many ways, as we learn from this instructive account of hopeful prospects." -Noam Chomsky "Now, more than ever, to save our democracy, every American needs to read Daring Democracy." -Ann Ravel, former chair of the Federal Elections Commission "This book, perhaps better than any other, shows Americans that the democracy they want is possible." -Lawrence Lessig, author of Republic, Lost "Extraordinarily timely. The book the Democracy Movement has been waiting for." -Wendy Fields, executive director, Democracy Initiative "If you're finding it tough to feel optimistic about the future of our democracy-and lately, who isn't?-then you need to read this book. Frances Moore Lappe and Adam Eichen make clear that building a positive, even joyful pro-democracy movement that restores power to ordinary Americans isn't just possible-it's already happening." -Zachary Roth, author of The Great Suppression: Voting Rights, Corporate Cash, and the Conservative Assault on Democracy "Frances Moore Lappe and Adam Eichen have written a wonderfully sunny book at an exceptionally dark moment in American politics. They tell us, and I think they are right, that we are witnessing the rise of a movement of movements, and that the movement draws on reservoirs of passion and capacity embedded in our very human nature. This movement of movements that we are beginning to call 'the Resistance' may very well save our democracy. So you need to read this book, and join the movement!" -Frances Fox Piven "In this cross-generational effort, Frances Moore Lappe and Adam Eichen capture and explore something very important about our moment in history. Amid the serious and intrusive challenges to our democracy, there is an energetic movement to tear down barriers, advance full participation, and create a democracy that works for everyone. And that movement is creative, is winning in many places, and is bringing new people into the fold. Daring Democracy is a great and uplifting read, so grab it and enjoy!" -Miles Rapoport, Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Harvard Kennedy School and former president of Common Cause and Demos "It is time for a daring democracy. This book is a passionate call to 'transform fear into action.' We should heed this message and join the movement for democracy!" -Heather Booth, organizer and president of the Midwest Academy "As someone who has been on the opposite side of anti-democracy forces, I can say firsthand that Lappe and Eichen speak to the problems plaguing our elections, while also offering compelling solutions. An important book for anyone who cares about democracy in America." -Zephyr Teachout, Associate Professor of Law at Fordham University Praise for Frances Moore Lappe "A small number of people in every generation are forerunners, in thought, action, spirit, who swerve past the barriers of greed and power to hold a torch high for the rest of us. Lappe is one of those." -Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States