Daring Democracy, Frances Moore Lappe
Daring Democracy, Frances Moore Lappe
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Daring Democracy
Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want

Author: Frances Moore Lappé, Adam Eichen

Narrator: Rachel Fulginiti

Unabridged: 7 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/26/2017

Synopsis

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.

Americans are distraught as tightly held economic and political power drowns out their voices and values. Legendary Diet for a Small Planet author Frances Moore Lappé and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen offer a fresh, surprising response to this core crisis. This intergenerational duo opens with an essential truth: It’s not the magnitude of a challenge that crushes the human spirit. It’s feeling powerless—in this case, fearing that to stand up for democracy is futile. It’s not, Lappé and Eichen argue. With riveting stories and little-known evidence, they demystify how we got here, exposing the well-orchestrated effort that has robbed Americans of their rightful power. But at the heart of this unique book are solutions. Even in this divisive time, Americans are uniting across causes and ideologies to create a “canopy of hope” the authors call the Democracy Movement. In this invigorating “movement of movements,” millions of Americans are leaving despair behind as they push for and achieve historic change. The movement and democracy itself are vital to us as citizens and fulfill human needs—for power, meaning, and connection—essential to our thriving. In this timely and necessary book, Lappé and Eichen offer proof that courage is contagious in the daring fight for democracy.

About The Author

Frances Moore Lappé, 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. Lappé is one of those.”—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United StatesAdam 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 Lappé, 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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Susan on October 21, 2017

First, I am a registered Republican. Second, I watched Donald Trump become president with much apprehension. Unfortunately, I had read a great deal about his career, watched him faithfully on his reality show (a fact I am not proud of) and saw how he dealt with others. As a news junkie, I have watch......more

Goodreads review by Bob on September 18, 2017

Summary: Responding to the concentration of political power within monied elites, the authors expose their strategy, and advocate a growing Democracy Movement to recover American democratic institutions. Perhaps one of the most disturbing consequences of politics in the post-Citizens United era is th......more

Goodreads review by Pam on January 21, 2018

This book outlines what it calls the "Anti-Democracy movement," using material from books I've read, including Dark Money and The New Jim Crow. Then it highlights a number of efforts to counteract these trends, including Poor People's Campaign and other initiatives. I'm not as optimistic as the auth......more

Goodreads review by Sara on November 09, 2017

I'm not sure this is an unbiased review, as I am finishing up this book on the 1 year anniversary of the 2016 Elections, and it's dark and raining and I'm feeling down. So there is the disclaimer. Reading this book I wanted to be inspired, and in a few spots I was. But overall the sections on the ant......more

Goodreads review by Tracey on November 28, 2017

I was hoping that this book would be more uplifting and inspiring. It provides a solid history into the rise of the anti-democracy movement and how Trump won, but the "igniting power" wasn't there. As someone who has done a lot of advocacy to only see everything I worked for taken away/dismantled, t......more

Quotes

“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, Lappé 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 Lappé 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 Lappé 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 Lappé 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 Lappé 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 Lappé

“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. Lappé is one of those.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

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