As we approach a critical election, League members are looking for thoughtful insights into the authoritarian crisis facing our country. Heather Cox Richardson has become a trusted voice in America in trying to explain the threats facing our democracy.  “It’s a call to action,” according to the book’s review. 

Grab a copy of the book and come join other League members and friends in the Community Room of the Blacksburg Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 6th, for a lively discussion of the book and its analysis of the state of our democracy. Bring your lunch if you would like as we gather at 11:45 a.m.  

So, pick up or borrow a copy of Democracy Awakening and start reading now so you’ll be ready to share your ideas and conclusions from the book. 

Feel free to bring a friend or family member to join in the discussion.  

Available at Amazon, Thriftbooks, and MFR Library.

Democracy Awakening

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, Heather Cox Richardson, 2024, 320 pp.

Summary (from Amazon.com): At a time when the very foundations of American democracy seem under threat, the lessons of the past offer a road map for navigating a moment of political crisis. In Democracy Awakening, acclaimed historian Heather Cox Richardson delves into the tumultuous journey of American democracy, tracing the roots of Donald Trump’s “authoritarian experiment” to the earliest days of the republic. She examines the historical forces that have led to the current political climate, showing how modern conservatism has preyed upon a disaffected population, weaponizing language and promoting false history to consolidate power.

With remarkable clarity and the same accessible voice that brings millions to her newsletter, Letters from an American, Richardson wrangles a chaotic news feed into a story that pivots effortlessly from the Founders to the abolitionists to Nixon to the January 6 insurrection. An essential read for anyone concerned about the state of America, Democracy Awakening is more than a history book; it’s a call to action. Richardson reminds us that democracy requires constant vigilance and participation from all of us, showing how we, as a nation, can take the lessons of the past to secure a more just and equitable future.