On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear

by Julia Angwin, Ami Fields-Meyer

READ BY RACHEL MADDOW

From a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist and a former White House senior advisor, a deeply reported manual about how anyone can defy an authoritarian – based on original interviews with more than 100 dissidents, activists, and theorists across the world.

The United States is only the latest country to face a leader who wields fear as a weapon, punishes political enemies, disappears people off the street, and undermines free and fair elections. Today nearly three out of four people on earth live under authoritarianism, the highest rate since the late 1970s.

But even under repressive conditions, each of us holds the power to help defeat autocrats. Based on their acclaimed The New Yorker essay “So You Want to Be a Dissident?,” veteran reporter Julia Angwin and political strategist Ami Fields-Meyer give us a captivating – and profoundly hopeful – guide to courage in an age of fear.

Meet a student from Hong Kong who risked everything for democracy. A mom in a working-class neighborhood of Caracas who broke with the political movement that raised her. Cairo twentysomethings who staged a gutsy stunt to help bring down a dictator. A mild-mannered immigrant fighting to save a landmark U.S. civil rights law. People throughout the United States and across five continents who faced serious risks for dissenting in their workplace, their community, or their country. On Courage is the story of how they did it anyway – and how you can do it, too.

Blending rich, previously untold narratives with history, spirituality, and movement research, Angwin and Fields-Meyer deliver a highly accessible book full of practical lessons – an inspiring resource for anyone, anywhere, who feel the walls of history closing in on them. On Courage is a roadmap to political courage and a powerful case for how taking personal risks can help save the free world.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, History, Activism, Audiobook, Government, Social Justice

Audible Audio

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Katy O.]

I was lucky enough to read this early because my bookstore put it out a week early (whoops), so I was able to read and reflect on it in the run up to our nation's 250th birthday celebration. I found it to be inspirational and terrifying, given the fact that AMERICA needs a book about being a dissident in a failing democracy and slide toward authoritarianism ~ WTAF. This isn't a handbook, but instead snapshots of dissidents from throughout the world (including the US in recent days) and the movements they had an impact on.

My main takeaway: do SOMETHING. ANYTHING. Second takeaway: the best way to get people involved and invested is to ASK them to, and give them a task. Third takeaway: revolution and change take TIME ~ take the long view, play the long game, immediate failure doesn’t mean ultimate defeat.

Ultimately, even if the movement fails in your lifetime, knowing in your heart that you are on the right side of history lets you rest easier.

Source: purchased hardcover

[Juleigh Miller]

Fantastic book! I did feel it was kind of disorganized and rapid fire examples but then I realized that was because they wrote it so fast. Because we needed the information yesterday!! As a result the information was timely and very relevant. Having listened to the audiobook read by Rachel Maddow, who of course was phenomenal, I feel I may need the physical book for future reference and a refresher.

[Nils]

Angwin and Fields-Meyer make the case for courage in the face of authoritarianism.

Drawing on conversations with people in places including Hong Kong, Venezuela, Russia, Egypt (and yes, Trump’s United States) they argue that courage is neither an innate trait nor a form of heroism. It is a practice developed through experience, repetition, and difficult choices. This is book’s central claim: courage can be learned. Sadly, however, most of their examples are of people who narrate their stories of courage only after they’ve fled into exile.

On Courage avoids treating bravery as an abstraction. It’s not quite a how-to guide, but it does offer practical guidance: how to build relationships, organize locally, protect yourself, and find communities of shared purpose. And it grounds those lessons in the stories of particular people.

The audience for this book, ultimately, is Americans currently living through the collapse of their own liberal democracy. This book underscores that the horrors of the contemporary regime in the United States are hardly unique or unprecedented: there have been many versions of this movie played in many other places, and therefore we have things to learn from how others have reacted and what has worked in other countries facing similar authoritarian turns.

The key takeaways:
• Courage is a practice you build. The book's central claim is that courage comes from experience, repetition, and hard choices. Most people who act bravely don't see themselves as heroes. As Angwin puts it, they reach a point where they "can't live with myself if I don't." Over time, that means small acts that build the habit count more than dramatic gestures.
• Other people protect you. Fear is the authoritarian's main weapon, and isolation makes it work. The answer is networks of trust and mutual aid. Angwin says people need a "political home," a community that keeps them committed through bad stretches, and she talks about "collective stubbornness" outlasting individual resolve. The Soviet dissident movement never had more than about a thousand committed members, and it lasted because those members trusted each other. One American activist in the book describes the core question as "what more can we do for each other?"
• Refuse the regime's framing. Drawing on Andrei Sinyavsky, the authors argue a dissident "does not consider himself guilty." Holding on to that inner refusal of the regime's labels keeps people going for years.
• Stay nonviolent and keep exposing contradictions. The book relies on movement research showing that nonviolent campaigns draw wider support and make repression more visible. It pairs that with steady, low-cost tactics: boycotts, layered secure communications (the "Swiss cheese" approach), crowdsourced monitoring, and constant pressure on a regime's internal contradictions.

Here are the sections:
• Part I: On Inner Life: Focuses on moral choices, bearing witness, recognizing options, and disciplined preparation.
• Part II: On Finding Your People: Covers building political homes, utilizing networks, inviting others, and sharing fate.
• Part III: On Threats and Violence: Addresses threat preparation, opposition research, defensive strategies, and nonviolent persuasion.
• Part IV: On Growing the Ranks: Explores agency, engaging double thinkers, sparking belief cascades, and forming coalitions.

Many books about political and social crises leave readers inspired but passive. This one suggests that history is shaped not by fearless leaders, but by ordinary people who act despite their fear. Its ultimate lesson is that democracy depends on it.

[Cassie C]

A guide with sound advice, this book outlines how one can find the courage to speak out and stand up during times of oppression. I appreciated the targeted tips, especially the focus on what to do as an individual, as well as really reinforcing the importance of acting in community. It was a good reminder that while these may feel like unprecedented times as we fight back against authoritarianism, there are many who have come before and had success, and we should learn from the lessons they have left us.

[Lauren M]

Obviously the themes of this book are incredibly important, now more than ever, but despite being clearly thoroughly sourced and resourced, I did find the book itself to be somewhat disorganized and scattershot. That said the content is so good that it’s still worth overlooking any flaws in the format to get to the heart of the stories it tells.

[David]

Despite the promise of the subtitle and blurb, this is not in fact a how-to guide on protest or resistance. Rather, it's a collection of profiles of courageous dissidents from various places fighting for a variety of causes. Yes, there are some lessons to be learned from each, but many have little direct relevance to our current American predicament. While interesting and inspirational, I was hoping for more tangible advice than the generic "find something you believe in and stand up for it, even when threatened with punitive state response."
Maybe I'm too jaded, lazy, and cowardly, but I'd really rather not deliberately put myself in situations where I'll be added to government watch lists, be arrested, doxxed, harassed, assaulted, or otherwise jeopardize my safety just to make a statement. I agree that just showing to vote twice a year is probably insufficient at this point, but aside from reading a ton and fretting a lot I still haven't found many productive avenues to vent my worry and disgust at what's been going on. I'm disappointed that despite the promise this book failed to offer a clear To-Do list or even a roadmap towards fixing the mess we're in.

Audiobook: As a pleasant surprise the narrator is Rachel Maddow, who does a wonderful job. I've listened to her narrate her own works, but this is the first time I've heard her reading someone else's book, and she does an excellent job.

[RAnthony]

"Better to participate than pretend not to be alive." (Chapter 3) That sounds so much like what I've been doing for ten years, maybe even longer. Hiding. Pretending not to be alive. Time to change that.

[Kelly]

If you live in Wisconsin, read Ben Wikler’s book first - then read this one. If you live anywhere else, reverse that.

[Rachel-RN]

This is a nice collection of stories of people from around the world who stood up to anthurarian regimes in their own way. Emphasis on non-violence. No job is too small (like handing out water or writing postcards). It can get one out and meet other people and help form a community of people who can support each other. Bottom line: DO SOMETHING
They mentioned the wargame that occurred after Jan 6th to game out what could happen if the current president denied the election results and refused to leave office. They also did a documentary on it and I recommend if you haven't seen: War Game (2024).
If you want to write postcards to help Democratic candidates win their election(s) here is the website:
https://turnoutpac.org/postcards/
It's easy, just supply the stamps (65 cents) and your time.

[David J.]

A tapestry of dissent woven together to give empowerment to the least of us.

In a conversational style, this book offers an anthological understanding of nonviolent perseverance primed for the times we live in. They offer new perspectives to key lifelong relationships as earthly people who have concern for one another. The literary linkages will result in a cascade of new reading possibilities on all matters of civil change raised in the treatise. For students and activists making the attempt to dissent on any moral and practical grounds this book is refreshing and stimulating, as well as, empowering.

[Cathrine "Capi"]

I listened to the audio book as my library had it but not the Kindle version. I am not a fan of audio books, I simply lose focus too quickly if my eyes are not "doing" something! And I really like to mark passages that stand out to me, and with the audio I kept thinking "I wish I could highlight that passage!!" The authors explored different countries/regions that were now or had struggled with authoritarianism and discussed how democracies died, and how democracies CAN be revived. I found it encouraging to know there IS a path out of this mess, if enough of us fight for our democracy and refuse to allow the authoritarian regime to continue its onslaught. It will not be easy, and there are MANY things that need to be changed about our system of government to prevent the current disaster from occuring again, but I sincerely hope we CAN recover. Oh, and it is read by Rachel Maddow, who is ALWAYS a pleasure to listen to!

[Georgann]

People all over the world want freedom and a government which cares about them. Many examples from many countries and movements show us what has worked and the authors help us understand why they worked (or didn't). Non-violence is key.

[Natalie Park]

4.5 stars

[Patrick]

A useful guide to the organizing dissident communities — including those who have been brainwashed by authoritarian propaganda

[Books Data]

On Courage by Julia Angwin and Ami Fields-Meyer is a deeply reported and hopeful book about how ordinary people find the strength to resist authoritarian power. Rather than presenting courage as a rare quality reserved for heroes, the book shows it as a practical skill that can be learned, practiced, and strengthened through real choices. Drawing on interviews with more than 100 dissidents, activists, and thinkers across the world, the authors build a wide-ranging portrait of what it means to stand up when fear, surveillance, intimidation, and social pressure are meant to keep people quiet. The book is not only about dramatic protests or political uprisings. It is also about smaller acts of moral resistance, personal sacrifice, and the daily discipline needed to keep going when speaking out carries a cost.

At the center of the book is the idea that authoritarianism depends on fear. Leaders who want to control people try to make dissent feel dangerous, isolating, and futile. They punish opposition, spread confusion, and make people believe they are alone. Angwin and Fields-Meyer argue that courage begins when people refuse that isolation. The book uses examples from places such as Hong Kong, Caracas, Cairo, and the United States to show how people choose to act even when the risks are serious. These stories are not presented as distant inspiration; they are used as practical lessons in how dissent actually works and how people can protect truth, dignity, and community under pressure.

The book also emphasizes that courage is rarely a solitary act. The authors show that effective resistance usually depends on networks of trust, strategic planning, and collective support. A person who speaks out alone may be vulnerable, but a person who acts with others is harder to silence. The stories in the book highlight organizers, students, workers, parents, immigrants, and activists who took risks not because they were fearless, but because they understood that waiting for fear to disappear would mean surrendering the future. This makes On Courage less of a memoir and more of a manual for moral action, with the authors blending history, movement research, spirituality, and first-hand accounts to show how dissent survives and spreads.

Another important theme is nonviolence. The book argues that nonviolent movements are often more effective than violent ones because they can win broader public support and expose the brutality of repression more clearly. It presents courage not as recklessness, but as disciplined resistance guided by strategy and purpose. The authors make clear that bravery does not mean acting without fear or consequence. It means choosing to move forward anyway, while remaining organized, resilient, and focused on a meaningful goal. In this way, the book reframes courage as something grounded in endurance, not just confrontation.

What makes On Courage especially strong is its practical tone. The book is not simply saying that people should be brave; it explains how courage grows in real life. It points to the importance of naming injustice, building solidarity, tolerating discomfort, and taking small steps that expand what feels possible. It also shows how courage can begin in unexpected places, including workplaces, neighborhoods, and families. This broader definition matters because it makes the book relevant beyond headline-making political struggles. The authors suggest that anyone facing intimidation, whether from a government, an institution, or a community, can learn from the people they profile.

The emotional core of the book is hope. Even though the subject is fear and repression, the book refuses despair. Its stories repeatedly show that one person’s willingness to resist can encourage others and change the atmosphere around them. Courage spreads. Once people see that dissent is possible, they are more likely to imagine their own role in it. That is why the book ultimately feels less like a warning and more like an invitation. It asks readers to rethink what they owe one another in difficult times and to see moral action as something ordinary people can practice, not something that belongs only to history’s famous figures.

Overall, On Courage is a serious and timely book about resisting authoritarianism with intelligence, solidarity, and persistence. It combines reporting with reflection and turns real-world examples into a clear argument for civic bravery. The result is a book that is both inspiring and useful, showing that courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to act with others in spite of it.

[Glenda]

Highly recommend !! Chock full of ideas about nonviolent resistance actions tried all over the world and at different times. Both successful and failed attempts are included, as well as research analysis on each.
Part one is your inner world: that small tug of conscience, being an eye witness, trying to wedge a door open, practice and prepare with commitment.

Part two is Find your People/ political home, repurpose your networks, invite others to join, and find comfort and power in alignment with others.

Part three :. Handing threats and violence, write down your people, make a list, check it twice, stack your defenses, and statistically remember nonviolence is more convincing than violence.

Part four: on Grow the ranks, learn to enjoy your resistance and find pleasure in your own agency, help others with conquering moral collusions, start a belief cascade and “Get the Jeep out of the mud”
or make imperfect coalitions.
Sounds dry, but it is very interesting to listen to the stories and experiences of other dissidents in many places and times.

[Courtney]

5 star

On Courage is a nonfiction book that looks at several countries and the more recent authoritarian governments or people in power in them. How they used propaganda and fear tactics and how individuals, groups and political parties worked against the violent and oppressive means that were being used to hurt and repress their citizens. It was well written, easy to follow and the narrative was straight forward, had multiple examples and relevant facts in history. It really emphasized the fear, risks and courage to readers that those included took. Educational about the propaganda methods, especially with how they have also changed with modern technology(social media, AI, podcast, and Gps) and how it's used. It is all very scary and heartbreaking but also impactful to know. I highly recommend it.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

[Brett Keeler]

Picked this up on a whim at the library (notably bought buy funds from the local Shoprite). Read it in a bit under a week - the book had a pretty strong hold on me.

Maybe it's because it reads in such short from - each chapter is just a handful of pages, and stories from the interviewees typically last less time than that. Or because it's just a book about so many successful underdogs - either way, the book is a real page turner and worth reading for anyone looking to organize to do just about anything.

The authors of the book share their their advice on how to be courage, and I don't want to spoil their premise - it's a quick read. Their mean theme, though, is community - building community is the way forward, no matter what power you're fighting. Look to the past for valor if you need, but look to your neighbor for strength in the moment.

[Brenda Kochis]

On Courage is a sharp and timely reflection on what dissent looks like in an era shaped by fear, social pressure, and constant surveillance. Julia Angwin avoids romanticizing bravery; instead, she shows how courage often emerges from small, deliberate choices—choosing honesty, integrity, and clarity even when silence would be easier.

The book’s strength is its practicality: it frames dissent not as a dramatic act reserved for activists, but as an everyday practice that ordinary people can cultivate. Angwin’s examples highlight how resisting conformity is both a personal responsibility and a civic one, offering a thoughtful reminder that courage can be quiet, steady, and deeply consequential.

An excellent read.

[Penny]

Many of us want to do more to protest but don't know how to go about it, or how to confront our own fears for what might happen to us if we do. At one point the authors say that the book would be interesting if it just related the stories of those who show courage, but the reader would have no agency. This book provides agency. Broken into manageable sections, it tells people's stories in such a way that you can indeed learn to be a dissident, if that is what you want, step by step. While some people just know that keeping quiet is not an option for them, others are led more gradually to this realisation. The book is practical with many ideas to help the serious but nascent dissident, feel their way into meaningful, courageous, protest.

[Dina Campeau]

Such a helpful and encouraging read during this time. For those who worry about how we are sliding/have slid into autocracy, this is the read for us. Two standout things: if you worry you are doing enough and don’t qualify as a dissident, the authors say “a dissident who one who takes a meaningful risk IN THEIR OWN CONTEXT (emphasis mine) by fighting for the principle that all people are worthy of equal rights, dignity, and opportunity.” What we need to do is live by our values. If it feels wrong, it is, and you don’t have to go along. The other is the reminder that this is a LONG GAME.

We can do this. Read the examples given in the book by people who did it.

[Mark]

The Untold Stories

Some of the stories in this book will be familiar to a lot of readers. But many of the stories were new to me. The stories of people around the world who read, wrote, stood in line, protested, made posters and demonstrated with their lives their commitment to a society where everyone counts - Many of those untold stories are shared here. Is was as humbling to read as it was inspiring. America under the Trump administration demands that we confront the truth. This book inspires us to ask ourselves the question: Once we confront the truth, what are we going to do about it?

[Hisham]

Contrary to what the title might suggest, this is not a handbook for dissidents. Instead, it shares accounts of dissident experiences from around the world and history. From those accounts, one may take on ideas on how to take on current challenges, but in a general way.

That's not to say this book isn't useful to current dissidents. It is useful to reflect on the experiences of other movements. For me the greatest value is found in the chapter notes that provide leads on other resources that can provide more details on the movements mentioned.

[Molly]

Interesting, but disorganized and scattershot. Not very applicable to American citizens and non-citizen residents in the summer of 2026. Overall the book downplays the brutality of some regimes. Activists may get criticized, or detained for N months; others are tortured or murdered or disappeared (murdered). "Success" depends on who the enemy is, and how far he'll go.

So, the book was depressing.

[Brian Regan]

I seriously fear that the US is on the brink of some truly terrible upheaval. If the November elections go off without significant shenanigans, I'll be shocked. It is both reassuring and frightening to listen (read by Rachel Maddow, a favorite) to this collection of anecdotes from people around the world who have encountered government oppression in its many forms. What would (will) I do, when the nation I've lived in my entire life collapses? I hope I won't need to find out.

[Lilly Sandberg]

This book grounded me in the ways that dissidents around the globe have confronted challenges like those we face in the US today. I walked away feeling both sobered and encouraged. The authors bring sharp journalistic eyes to this topic - interviewing fascinating sources and delivering information in digestible pieces - but they also bring a very welcome spirit of realism and optimism.

[Martin Storrow]

This book is timely, but it's also one of those works that will ripple outward in its impact for years to come. I know I will be returning to it often. Especially appreciated the framing around the power that artists + creative communities have to contribute and affect positive change in the midst of chaos. Was lucky to have read it early and could not recommend more highly.

[Cascade]

Incredibly helpful for anyone who wants to get involved in activism or resistance in one way or another, but also incredibly easy to read; concise and impactful.

I normally don’t read nonfiction, but this was different than most how to books on activism. I liked how the authors weaved together different personal stories together in a very smooth way to talk about concepts

[Dot526]

This is allllmost 5 stars. It’s a must read and a great pep-talk/how to. A necessary book to have on hand during our current times it’s just disorganized and a little all over the place but as reference as fuel to remember to DO SOMETHING, it’s excellent. Another buy multiples copies and put it people’s hands type of book.

[Rachel Peric]

A powerful read for anyone contemplating how to meet this moment with courage, drawing on the lessons of ordinary people who show what we are truly capable of in confronting inhumanity with our fullest humanity.