A New York Times Bestseller A vital and urgent call to action about the precarious state of
American democracy charting its historical challenges and current threats from one of our
era’s most important and insightful historians with a new afterword by the author.
“Magisterial.” –The Washington Post “An excellent primer for anyone who needs the important
facts of the last 150 years of American history–and how they got us to the sorry place we
inhabit today.” –Guardian 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.
