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On Courage: How to Be a Dissident in an Age of Fear
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.
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.
Audible Audio
Published June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy
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
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
July 27, 2026
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.
July 27, 2026
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.
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.
July 6, 2026
4.5 stars
August 6, 2026
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.
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.
July 1, 2026
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.
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.
July 13, 2026
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.
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.
August 8, 2026
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
June 30, 2026
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.
July 29, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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.
July 10, 2026
"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.
July 23, 2026
Inspiring Stories
I liked learning about diverse people in many situations, & how they met challenges around the world. Not just about USA, but with stories that have relevance to USA.
I liked learning about diverse people in many situations, & how they met challenges around the world. Not just about USA, but with stories that have relevance to USA.
August 2, 2026
Hey Ami! This book is awesome. Kudos 👏. Nothing cooler than reading a book written by a friend…and being able to recommend it. Everyone should read this, timely and vivid interviews and beautifully told.
July 2, 2026
4.25⭐️
In awe of the courage and bravery of those who speak up and speak out
In awe of the courage and bravery of those who speak up and speak out
July 5, 2026
Really well written and researched. A good cream
July 9, 2026
Necessary read for modern America. Alternatively inspiring and depressing, but definitely necessary
July 11, 2026
Cogent, inspirational, and well-timed look at how people around the world have resistance the forces of authoritarianism. Buy a copy for all of your friends!
July 21, 2026
A useful guide to the organizing dissident communities — including those who have been brainwashed by authoritarian propaganda
July 25, 2026
I think it was a pretty good insight into the necessity, challenges, and mechanics of dissent.
July 30, 2026
Required reading in the current political climate.
July 31, 2026
2 important lessons learned: there is always something you can do, perspective.
Did Not Finish
August 3, 2026I don't have the mental and emotional strength to read this at the moment, unfortunately.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews