The Democracy Group's spring reading list

Grab a refreshing drink and find a cozy spot under the sun, because we're bringing you a list of books you should read this spring!

Featured on Democracy Works: The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War

In The Undertow, author Jeff Sharlet explores America’s political divide by embarking on a yearlong solo journey around the country. He drove from town to town and talked to right-wing ideologists and MAGA supporters to further investigate the root and rise of Trumpism. 

Sharlet is a reporter and a New York Times best-selling author and editor. One of his eight books, The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power, was adapted into a Netflix documentary series. 

‍Featured on Future Hindsight: Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools that Built the Civil Rights Movement

Author Elaine Weiss tells the story of four activists fighting to restore voting rights to Black Americans in the 1950s and 60s in Spell Freedom. The book explores the founding of the Citizenship Schools project that prepared tens of thousands of Black citizens to read, write and vote. 

Weiss is a journalist, public speaker and media commentator. She has authored many award-winning books, like The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote and Fruits of Victory: The Woman’s Land Army in the Great War. 

‍Featured on Politics in Question: The Dispersion of Power: A Critical Realist Theory of Democracy

The Dispersion of Power draws attention to the modern definition of democracy, why it matters and how to make it better through analyses of democratic theories and action. Author Samuel Ely Bagg explores the shortcomings of elections and proposes ways to deepen and enrich democracy. 

Bagg is an assistant professor at the University of South Carolina. He teaches political theory and researches democratic theorizing. 

‍Featured on Freedom Over Fascism: How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism

Author Craig Johnson equips readers with research and analysis on right-wing recruitment of young men through How to Talk to Your Son About Fascism. The book reveals the danger of the internet rabbit hole, presents signs of fascism and guides parents to prevent this from happening.

Johnson is a journalist, researcher and host of the podcast Fifteen Minutes of Fascism. He researches the right-wing, fascism and modern history.

‍Featured on The Politics Guys: The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What’s Right When the Stakes Are High.

‍The Purposeful Warrior navigates the fight for integrity and truth and turning fear and frustration into power, drawing from Michigan’s Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s personal experiences. The book follows her rise in politics and guides readers to stand up for themselves and each other when the stakes are high.

Benson is an attorney, politician and former law school dean. She’s running for governor of Michigan in 2026.

Featured on TPNR: How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

How to Know a Person is about fostering deeper connections throughout our lives — whether we’re at home, work or in third spaces. Author David Brooks incorporated findings from psychology, neuroscience, and many other fields to help readers become more considerate toward others and to see and understand other people.

Brooks is an author and political and cultural commentator. He’s a columnist for The New York Times and a writer for The Atlantic.

‍Featured on The Great Battlefield: There Are No Dead Here

There Are No Dead Here examines Colombia’s corruption and drug scene post-Escobar, where the country is still haunted by unfolding tragedies and violence. Author Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno tells the stories of three individuals who risked everything to reveal the country’s darkest side and defend democracy.

Sánchez-Moreno is an advocate, attorney, senior legal advisor at Human Rights Watch and CEO of RepresentUs. She is an award-winning book author and a pro-democracy leader.

‍Featured on Village Squarecast: Outraged

Author Kurt Gray argues that despite our varying moral foundations, everyone’s moral judgments stem from feeling threatened or vulnerable to harm in Outraged. The book debunks common myths about humans and our minds, and showcases how our moral judgments are based on gut feelings rather than rational thoughts. 

Gray is a social psychologist and professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He directs the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding and the Deepest Beliefs Lab. 

This is Jessie Nguyen, The Democracy Group's Community Manager. Here are some of my favorite podcasts this week, check them out!

The Great Battlefield: A Path Forward to Unite Us All

Sol Erdman joins The Great Battlefield talk about his career from success on Wall Street to conflict resolution to now starting Grand Bargain Project, which aims to unite Americans through policy change. He says, "I see this road map for the future that is so much better for my family, so much better for the country, so much better for me"

RCV Clips: All About Redondo Beach's First RCV Election!

Redondo Beach, Calif., had its first ranked-choice voting election in March in Los Angeles! This episode talks about what made the election a celebrated milestone, what the experience was like and what an "instant runoff" entails.

Let's Find Common Ground: Pathways to Peace in the Middle East? With Max Boot and Ben Rhodes

USC Center for the Political Future Director Bob Shrum joins renowned foreign policy experts Ben Rhodes and Max Boot for a discussion on pathways to peace in the Middle East. They discuss the current conflicts in the Middle East, the prospects of a two-state or single state solution, the future of Gaza, and the role of the U.S. in ending the conflicts and fostering a peace process.

FEATURED EXPERTS

TPNR: E. J. Dionne on Resisting Extremism and the Path to National Healing

E. J. Dionne is a journalist, political commentator and a government professor at Georgetown University. He is a columnist at The Washington Post and has been named one of the 25 most influential Washington journalists by the National Journal. Dionne is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

Future Hindsight: Skye Perryman on 100 Days of Chaos

Skye Perryman is the president and CEO of Democracy Forward. She is a frequent lecturer and speaker on law and policy. Perryman was named one of TIME's 100 most influential people of 2025.