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On Mindful Democracy: A Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World
An antidote to political burnout and civic drawing on mindfulness and modern wisdom to cultivate resilience, healthy engagement, and skillful presence in turbulent times
A compact, beautifully designed guide offering 27 powerful teachings of interdependence to navigate news, social media, and civic engagement with clarity and courage
250 years after the US Declaration of Independence, this incisive Declaration of Interdependence is a timely, tender, and transformative guide for citizens who care deeply about the world but feel disillusioned by the state of public discourse. Professor Jeremy David Engels—scholar, mindfulness teacher, and longtime student of Thich Nhat Hanh—proposes that clarity and interconnection are not only paths to personal peace, but vital practices for renewing democracy itself.
Structured in the spirit of On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder, this compact, accessible book delivers 27 profound insights—each a short chapter—on how to show up for democracy with compassion, clarity, and courage. It invites readers to step away from enemyship, to root their activism in shared humanity, and to declare their interdependence.
Readers will
• How mindfulness can heal the civic wounds of polarization and fear
• Practices for engaging with news and social media without being consumed
• A reimagining of democracy as collective empowerment, not endless conflict
• Zen stories and teachings to inspire transformation
• Practical tips for showing up skillfully in moments of disagreement and tension
Whether you’re a seasoned activist or a tender-hearted citizen seeking a new path forward, this luminous testament to resilience offers a lantern in the dark—and a quiet call to remember who we are, and what we’re here to do, together.
A compact, beautifully designed guide offering 27 powerful teachings of interdependence to navigate news, social media, and civic engagement with clarity and courage
250 years after the US Declaration of Independence, this incisive Declaration of Interdependence is a timely, tender, and transformative guide for citizens who care deeply about the world but feel disillusioned by the state of public discourse. Professor Jeremy David Engels—scholar, mindfulness teacher, and longtime student of Thich Nhat Hanh—proposes that clarity and interconnection are not only paths to personal peace, but vital practices for renewing democracy itself.
Structured in the spirit of On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder, this compact, accessible book delivers 27 profound insights—each a short chapter—on how to show up for democracy with compassion, clarity, and courage. It invites readers to step away from enemyship, to root their activism in shared humanity, and to declare their interdependence.
Readers will
• How mindfulness can heal the civic wounds of polarization and fear
• Practices for engaging with news and social media without being consumed
• A reimagining of democracy as collective empowerment, not endless conflict
• Zen stories and teachings to inspire transformation
• Practical tips for showing up skillfully in moments of disagreement and tension
Whether you’re a seasoned activist or a tender-hearted citizen seeking a new path forward, this luminous testament to resilience offers a lantern in the dark—and a quiet call to remember who we are, and what we’re here to do, together.
- GenresPolitics
192 pages, Paperback
Published February 3, 2026
About the author
Jeremy Engels
6 books2 followersJeremy Engels is Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences at Penn State.
Education:
B.A., University of Kansas, 2002
M.A., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2003
Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2006
aka Jeremy David Engels
Education:
B.A., University of Kansas, 2002
M.A., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2003
Ph.D., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 2006
aka Jeremy David Engels
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 5, 2026
This book was written with the 250th Anniversary of the USA in mind and shares concepts from Buddhism that can be applied to democracy today. It was a very heartening read and reminder of ideas I’ve heard before but were helpful to revisit in this moment.
February 5, 2026
4.75⭐️
A good reminder of how democracy is meant to function
A good reminder of how democracy is meant to function
April 12, 2026
Incredible read. The prescription - and elegant words - my weary soul needs right now.
June 8, 2026
Such a brilliant revision of The Declaration of INTER-dependence and the personal responsibility of mindfulness practice as central to democracy. Moving and inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews