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The Second Convention: America, 2036
Is Thomas Jefferson right? Does the tree of liberty need to be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants?
Tom Powell is going to find out. He is the local leader of the Revolutionary Party, and he gives a speech on July 4th that causes a brawl. Now he is being arrested for inciting a riot. His work and marriage are at risk.
But he can’t quit the Party. There’s too much at stake. Climate change and the political divisions in America in 2036 have brought the country to the brink of civil war. Militias are on the rise, starvation looms, and revolution is on everyone’s lips.
Tom wants radical change in the government, but he wants it without blood in the streets. He takes his team to the Second Constitutional Convention in Columbia, South Carolina. Can he persuade enough delegates to adopt his vision?
Tensions flare and tempers run high amid the turmoil and shifting alliances of this historic Convention. Tom must confront his own biases and navigate political intrigue, personal vendettas, and ideological divides. Powerful forces oppose him, determined to maintain the status quo.
"The Second Convention" is a fast-paced novel of high-stakes politics, moral dilemmas, and the fierce battle for the soul of the nation. In a time of uncertainty and division, will this unlikely hero and the delegates create a new Constitution to steer America in the 21st century?
Tom Powell is going to find out. He is the local leader of the Revolutionary Party, and he gives a speech on July 4th that causes a brawl. Now he is being arrested for inciting a riot. His work and marriage are at risk.
But he can’t quit the Party. There’s too much at stake. Climate change and the political divisions in America in 2036 have brought the country to the brink of civil war. Militias are on the rise, starvation looms, and revolution is on everyone’s lips.
Tom wants radical change in the government, but he wants it without blood in the streets. He takes his team to the Second Constitutional Convention in Columbia, South Carolina. Can he persuade enough delegates to adopt his vision?
Tensions flare and tempers run high amid the turmoil and shifting alliances of this historic Convention. Tom must confront his own biases and navigate political intrigue, personal vendettas, and ideological divides. Powerful forces oppose him, determined to maintain the status quo.
"The Second Convention" is a fast-paced novel of high-stakes politics, moral dilemmas, and the fierce battle for the soul of the nation. In a time of uncertainty and division, will this unlikely hero and the delegates create a new Constitution to steer America in the 21st century?
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 7, 2024
24 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 28, 2025
A good book. I think the year in which the book takes place, 2036, is a bit early for the scale of climate change proposed to have happened in the book. The author’s focus on the back room deal aspect of politics in a crumbling America was captivating. I don’t believe he captured the potential ramifications of the world he created. There would have been way more massacres, such as the one in Tulsa, OK, in a fragmented society like he describes.
November 3, 2024
I enjoyed reading, “The Second Convention: America, 2036” by Douglas E. Congdon, who in my opinion, is a highly entertaining writer who has written a thought-provoking and intriguing story. The story is about Tom Powell, who in the year 2036 is the leader of the Revolutionary Party, and Tom gives a July 4th speech that causes a brawl and his arrest for inciting a riot.
I liked the pace of the story and the characters and the personalities involved in the story. The author, in my opinion, describes their interactions, events, and scenes excellently while keeping this intriguing story moving at a good pace. I also felt the author’s writing style is excellent, as he describes each scene extremely well with excellent narrative.
Amidst the turmoil in the story, the protagonist Tom Powell seeks to solve many highly complex issues amid many conflicts and disagreements about a new structure of government. For example, here is a short excerpt from the book,
“So, what united the various factions? Religion, language, culture? That was true for the first convention in 1787, made up of English-speaking white men, most of whom were Protestants. In the diverse America of 2036, those unifiers were often missing. Could the center hold, like the nucleus of the atom, balancing the attracting forces with those that repelled? Or had hate and resentment overcome the bonds that had held America together for over 200 years, except for the Civil War? What common interests were left? Well, most people still accepted “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thank you, Mr. Jefferson. And most people accepted rules based on consensus, or at least on what the majority wanted. So, Tom would begin with those—everyone had basic rights, including the right to a say in their own government—as the foundation for his arguments.”
I also enjoyed reading the way the author puts the lead character, Tom Powell into the crucible of adversity, grappling not only with the imminent threat to his personal and professional life but also with the weight of his convictions as he stands at the crossroads of history and more.
I also felt this story was unique and much needed in the present world to clearly show the countless issues and differences that occur in the US on an everyday basis with the protagonist and his team striving for radical governmental reform. I was captivated by how the story shows intriguing efforts to bring together a high-stakes gambit with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance.
In my opinion, the excellent story is highly thought-provoking as Tom Powell is caught in a web of intrigue, betrayal, and moral reckoning. He grapples with his own inner demons and external adversaries who seek to thwart his noble aspirations. I enjoyed reading the way the author shows how the forces of conservatism, progressivism, and more all clash in a symphony of discord.
I also liked the way the author crafted the story with relatively short chapters and the ever-increasing pace of the story as it neared the ending. And I enjoyed the thrilling climax very much.
All in all, I felt “The Second Convention: America 2036" emerges as a riveting tale of political brinksmanship, ethical quandaries, and the unyielding quest for national renewal. The author’s narrative throughout the story unfolds as a testament to the enduring power of courage, conviction, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of monumental challenges.
Very well done and highly recommended!
I liked the pace of the story and the characters and the personalities involved in the story. The author, in my opinion, describes their interactions, events, and scenes excellently while keeping this intriguing story moving at a good pace. I also felt the author’s writing style is excellent, as he describes each scene extremely well with excellent narrative.
Amidst the turmoil in the story, the protagonist Tom Powell seeks to solve many highly complex issues amid many conflicts and disagreements about a new structure of government. For example, here is a short excerpt from the book,
“So, what united the various factions? Religion, language, culture? That was true for the first convention in 1787, made up of English-speaking white men, most of whom were Protestants. In the diverse America of 2036, those unifiers were often missing. Could the center hold, like the nucleus of the atom, balancing the attracting forces with those that repelled? Or had hate and resentment overcome the bonds that had held America together for over 200 years, except for the Civil War? What common interests were left? Well, most people still accepted “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thank you, Mr. Jefferson. And most people accepted rules based on consensus, or at least on what the majority wanted. So, Tom would begin with those—everyone had basic rights, including the right to a say in their own government—as the foundation for his arguments.”
I also enjoyed reading the way the author puts the lead character, Tom Powell into the crucible of adversity, grappling not only with the imminent threat to his personal and professional life but also with the weight of his convictions as he stands at the crossroads of history and more.
I also felt this story was unique and much needed in the present world to clearly show the countless issues and differences that occur in the US on an everyday basis with the protagonist and his team striving for radical governmental reform. I was captivated by how the story shows intriguing efforts to bring together a high-stakes gambit with the fate of the nation hanging in the balance.
In my opinion, the excellent story is highly thought-provoking as Tom Powell is caught in a web of intrigue, betrayal, and moral reckoning. He grapples with his own inner demons and external adversaries who seek to thwart his noble aspirations. I enjoyed reading the way the author shows how the forces of conservatism, progressivism, and more all clash in a symphony of discord.
I also liked the way the author crafted the story with relatively short chapters and the ever-increasing pace of the story as it neared the ending. And I enjoyed the thrilling climax very much.
All in all, I felt “The Second Convention: America 2036" emerges as a riveting tale of political brinksmanship, ethical quandaries, and the unyielding quest for national renewal. The author’s narrative throughout the story unfolds as a testament to the enduring power of courage, conviction, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of monumental challenges.
Very well done and highly recommended!
October 28, 2024
I received an AEC through "Booksirens" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This story begins with Tom being arrested because of a speech he gave on July 4th which resulted in a bloody fight. He spent a night in jail as result. Tom's speech highlighted the fact that a change needed to be made because of climate change and other events that happened over the past few years. Tom came to the conclusion that he would run for the U.S. Senate which would prevent him from being arrested again.
Follow Tom along with his wife Abby, and his political team Miles, Natasha and Isaiah as Tom becomes involved by participating in a Constitution Convention being held in Charleston, S.C. The Convention is to rewrite the old Constitution to reflect how the country is comprised instead of when the Constitution was created in the late 1700s. Discover how Tom worked to gather enough delegates to vote for the proposal as well as what other factions had to be dealt with.
The story is appropriate at this time since our country has had major changes since the Constitution was adopted and our current political atmosphere looks like changes need to be made.
Don't miss out on this book, you won't be sorry.
This story begins with Tom being arrested because of a speech he gave on July 4th which resulted in a bloody fight. He spent a night in jail as result. Tom's speech highlighted the fact that a change needed to be made because of climate change and other events that happened over the past few years. Tom came to the conclusion that he would run for the U.S. Senate which would prevent him from being arrested again.
Follow Tom along with his wife Abby, and his political team Miles, Natasha and Isaiah as Tom becomes involved by participating in a Constitution Convention being held in Charleston, S.C. The Convention is to rewrite the old Constitution to reflect how the country is comprised instead of when the Constitution was created in the late 1700s. Discover how Tom worked to gather enough delegates to vote for the proposal as well as what other factions had to be dealt with.
The story is appropriate at this time since our country has had major changes since the Constitution was adopted and our current political atmosphere looks like changes need to be made.
Don't miss out on this book, you won't be sorry.
February 14, 2025
What I Did Like:
+The parties fighting each other instead of solving the problem is incredibly real and raw. For someone living in 2025 America, it’s almost too real and raw sometimes.
+The story paints a good picture of the way everyone is living and struggling. There’s no doubt things are bad and change is needed, that’s highlighted well.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of political dramas.
My Rating: 2 Stars
For me, the lack of a character to root for or latch onto and the lack of emotion pulled me out of the story too much, which was problematic.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/02/...
+The parties fighting each other instead of solving the problem is incredibly real and raw. For someone living in 2025 America, it’s almost too real and raw sometimes.
+The story paints a good picture of the way everyone is living and struggling. There’s no doubt things are bad and change is needed, that’s highlighted well.
Who Should Read This One:
-Fans of political dramas.
My Rating: 2 Stars
For me, the lack of a character to root for or latch onto and the lack of emotion pulled me out of the story too much, which was problematic.
For Full Review: https://alltherightreads.com/2025/02/...
June 2, 2025
2036, A Look at a New America
The thought of what could happen at a Constitutional Convention, should we ever get to have one, grabbed my attention. To be honest, it was a little boring, slow in the beginning. It picked up more in the middle with a pretty quick ending. It paints a gloomy 2036, just 11 years away where people live in container houses and eat bug based food. We've got sea levels rising and solar flares, people starving and our government failing. Yet, miraculously the Convention succeeds, gets ratified and suddenly all is well. I'm not so sure it would work out this well. But after all it is the author's theory of what might be.
The thought of what could happen at a Constitutional Convention, should we ever get to have one, grabbed my attention. To be honest, it was a little boring, slow in the beginning. It picked up more in the middle with a pretty quick ending. It paints a gloomy 2036, just 11 years away where people live in container houses and eat bug based food. We've got sea levels rising and solar flares, people starving and our government failing. Yet, miraculously the Convention succeeds, gets ratified and suddenly all is well. I'm not so sure it would work out this well. But after all it is the author's theory of what might be.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews