Democracy Works

A democracy reading list

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If you’ve been to a book store or the library lately, then you’ve probably seen at least a few books on democracy on the shelves. The 2016 presidential election spurred a lot of conversation about the current state of our democracy and where things go from here. These books are not what most people would call beach reading, but they are important to understanding what’s happening in the U.S. and around the world right now.

We know you probably don’t have time to read all of them. Hopefully this episode will help you choose one or two to tackle. Here’s the rundown of the books we discuss:

  • [2:51] How Democracies Die (Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt)
  • [5:35] The People vs. Democracy: Why Our Freedom is in Danger and How to Save It (Yascha Mounk)
  • [11:36] The Retreat of Western Liberalism (Edward Luce)
  • [16:32] Devil’s Bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump, and the Storming of the Presidency (Joshua Green)
  • [21:40] The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics (Salena Zito and Bradd Todd)
  • [30:23] Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic (David Frum)
  • [35:36] One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet Deported (E.J. Dionne Jr., Norman Ornstein, Thomas Mann)
  • [39:44] Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump (Michael Isikoff and David Corn)
  • [43:04] The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels (Jon Meacham)
  • [45:37] The Monarchy of Fear: A Philosopher Looks at Our Political Crisis (Martha C. Nussbaum)

    • And here are a few others we recommend but didn’t have time to discuss in this episode:

    • The List: A Week By Week Reckoning of Trump’s First Year (Amy Siskind)
    • The Common Good (Robert Reich)
    • Suicide of the West (Jonah Goldberg)
    • Daring Democracy: Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want (Frances Moore Lappe and Adam Eichen)
    • Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism (Ian Bremmer)
    • Can It Happen Here? Authoritarianism In America (Cass Sunstein)
    • Ratf**ked: Why Your vote Doesn’t Count (David Daley)
    • Democracy in America? What Has Gone Wrong and What We Can Do About It (Benjamin I. Page)

      • Thank you to everyone who supported us on the first season of Democracy Works. Season two will begin in mid-August with a look at Confederate monuments and public memory on the anniversary of last summer’s riots in Charlottesville.

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      Democracy WorksBy Penn State McCourtney Institute for Democracy
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