Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American

by David Pepper

Laboratories of Autocracy walked through the hidden breadth, depth, and intensity of the countrywide attack on democracy. The final chapters outlined thirty steps necessary to fight back. One of the most common responses from readers was—“I skipped to the end. I wanted to get to the solutions.”

Saving Democracy is the companion book that skips to the
—It details how we all can and must play a role in saving democracy at this fraught time.
—It explains how all levels of the pro-democracy side, from national political leaders to grassroots activists to everyday Americans, must switch to offense.
—It explains how to stay on offense and win on offense. Immediately, and everywhere.

But it doesn’t do this at 30,000 feet.

It’s a user’s manual, intended to spur action. Your action. After a quick review of the true battle for democracy we are engaged in, each chapter explains how YOU, the reader, can and must play the leading role in lifting democracy. It details the concrete steps individuals and groups can take where you live, lists resources that can help along the way, and offers case studies and best practices that have worked elsewhere.

Saving Democracy is structured to challenge and guide each reader—no matter your role in your community or politics or where you work—on how you each can play a more active and effective role in lifting democracy than you might have imagined. Over the course of the book, you will construct your own personal plan to fight for democracy. And when you’re finished, you’ll be ready to get to work.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

338 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2023

Reviews

[S. Asher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative. Concise. But... could use a book editor.
Cite your figures and reference them clearly for your readers, please.
Aside from that, I would recommend this book of wisdom to anyone interested in assimilating genuine democracy into one's life and practices.

[Sheris225 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Book.
The author has a ringing call to save self-government in this country.
“There is a desperate need to re-establish both legal and political accountability back into politics” He has some downright smart insights that Democrats would do well to listen to: “Team A’s government strategy of pushing voters off the rolls is rewarded by Team D’s political strategy, which removes those voters from the entire political conversation. That’s right—the standard political response to the shrinking of the rolls is to accept those smaller rolls as the new electorate.”
And he is absolutely right in his prescription to our current imbalance:
“…our new normal must be to field candidates in every state legislative district in every state in every election, and to provide enough support so that these candidates can run a basic campaign and get a message out.

Leave no seats uncontested. Anywhere.
Leave no incumbent extremists unchallenged. Anywhere.
And if you’re not doing that narrative-shaping, someone else will.
Lead with Values; Connect with Emotion“

I liked his ideas about how to shape a message. He also has good concrete steps that everyone can take to get involved in the struggle to retain Democracy in ordinary Americans hands. This is an activating book.

[Stacy Slater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Positives
Good ideas of what each of us can do to put reasonable people in office and keep our democracy alive.

Not-so-Much
Repetitive in sections.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

To save democracy, we have got to fight smarter...yes, paying attention every 4 years for the presidential election, but ALSO, school board, city council, state legislature. We've got to fight to protect voters and voting. We stop playing defense...we turn the other side's very unpopular messages onto themselves...We carry their messages to the logical end and pound that message. We look carefully at our advocacy footprint...WHO we can influence, and HOW we can influence...we use that full footprint intentionally. We join others and work in the work and scale up.

And, according to Pepper, we run everywhere...That is my 'yes, but...' I have not run, but I've supported friends who have. That work is expensive and grueling and can be totally demoralizing. I understand his point...we leave too many seats at the table un-challenged.

Every chapter ends with pages of online resources and links.

So much we can do right now...small steps with our personal footprints...one step at a time.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enthusiastic treatise to get us energized and empowered to save our democracy by getting everyone out to vote. There are some useful points here about how we’ve lost true democracy in the many states where there are lots of state-level offices filled by incumbents who, election after election, never have opponents. These uncontested elections allow the officials to get increasingly out-of-touch with their constituents, which has led in many states to laws being enacted that grossly misrepresent the desires of the people. Texas and Louisiana are two states that have many, many uncontested races, and where voters are increasingly disenfranchised.

Another good point made is that since very little has been getting done in the US Senate and House, we need to be much more focused on our state and local elections. The policies and legislation are being set more locally, and we should focus on getting good people in at the state and local levels.

[Shirley White]

Although written for the 2023-24 election cycle, this book brings a timeless message of how and why we need to change our approach to political engagement in order to save it from would be autocrats who have little or no concern for everyday Americans who are the fabric of our country, and whose diversity of contributions have build our wealth and national identity. There are many actions taking place on a small scale that can be adapted and expanded to meet the particular contribution very honest voter, and paricularly activists, can utilized to create a groundswell of participation in the process of government, and in doing so, save our democratic system for generations to come. It is, however, work that will never be complete, against the enemies of democracy who are working most vigourously to tear down its protections as quickly as they are erected. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. . ."

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book, Very Informative and Motivating

I really enjoyed reading this book as it gave me steps to take to help lift democracy up where I live as well as get more involved in the broader fight for our democracy. Thank you David Pepper for all the work you have done, and are doing, to preserve and lift Democracy up. I have already signed up to be a pol worker and am creating my footprint.

[Patricia Hilliard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book talks a lot about how democracy should function, making suggestions that we all go out and do our part. But that consists of the usual: get people to register to vote, volunteer at precincts during elections, support candidates etc. It presents various concepts worth considering.

[Pamalama Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting with lots of advice/options to get involved, bu all of this takes time and money. Are these positions he wants me to run for going to pay me enough to keep me in hose and home?

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As important as the information in this book is, I thought the book could have been much shorter. So redundant. It’s more of a reference book than a read it from cover to cover.

[Walt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. Now get to work.

[Polly Callahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend; very quick read but one I will buy so I can refer to it and dig into all the resources it provides.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practical advice on how to do something to bring back democracy

[Shaun Deane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, pragmatic advice about next steps and ongoing CPR for democracy.