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Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26208 pages, Paperback
Expected publication August 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people”.
-Rob Reiner
I often see Skye Perryman on TV, as she is a frequent contributor on MS NOW.
Her organization, Democracy Forward, most recently had a victory in blocking the nearly $1.8 billion dollar slush fund that would give monetary compensation to individuals who insurrected the capital and brutalized police officers in 2021 (as if receiving a presidential pardon wasn’t already enough).
When I learned that she had written a book, I was excited to be able to get an ARC from NetGalley.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport” is a phrase that I’ve always heard, seen on signs, and even sweaters.
In this book, Skye clarifies the meaning of the phrase.
In the first portion, she explains concepts from our high school/college civics courses that a lot of us have probably forgotten.
In the rest, she offers solutions, actions to take, and encouragement to persevere, despite all of the chaos in our current environment.
She also provides several online resources (which made me feel better about the monthly donations that I make to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood).
Our democracy was already in turmoil before the arrival of Donald Trump on the political scene, but he has exacerbated everything in the most blatant ways possible.
To be blunt, he does not give a fuck about the results of his actions as long as they enrich his and his family’s wallets and assuage his toxic masculinity.
Three of our First Amendment rights in particular are in peril: the freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly, as evidenced by the attempted silencing of Jimmy Kimmel, the takeover of CNN by Paramount and David Ellison, and the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good (may their memory be a blessing).
Regardless of where one lies on the political spectrum, the suppression of First Amendment rights is something that affects everyone.
A lot of the tips that Skye offers don’t cost any money, nor that much time.
For instance, offering a ride to a neighbor who doesn’t drive but would like to vote, or accompanying one who is part of a marginalized community and may have fears about voting.
I really appreciated all of the resources and tips in this book.
We are all together in this, but sitting alone on the sidelines and hoping for the best is no longer an option.
Thank you to Ten Speed Press, NetGalley, and especially Skye Perryman for providing me with an eARC to review.
-Rob Reiner
I often see Skye Perryman on TV, as she is a frequent contributor on MS NOW.
Her organization, Democracy Forward, most recently had a victory in blocking the nearly $1.8 billion dollar slush fund that would give monetary compensation to individuals who insurrected the capital and brutalized police officers in 2021 (as if receiving a presidential pardon wasn’t already enough).
When I learned that she had written a book, I was excited to be able to get an ARC from NetGalley.
“Democracy is not a spectator sport” is a phrase that I’ve always heard, seen on signs, and even sweaters.
In this book, Skye clarifies the meaning of the phrase.
In the first portion, she explains concepts from our high school/college civics courses that a lot of us have probably forgotten.
In the rest, she offers solutions, actions to take, and encouragement to persevere, despite all of the chaos in our current environment.
She also provides several online resources (which made me feel better about the monthly donations that I make to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood).
Our democracy was already in turmoil before the arrival of Donald Trump on the political scene, but he has exacerbated everything in the most blatant ways possible.
To be blunt, he does not give a fuck about the results of his actions as long as they enrich his and his family’s wallets and assuage his toxic masculinity.
Three of our First Amendment rights in particular are in peril: the freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly, as evidenced by the attempted silencing of Jimmy Kimmel, the takeover of CNN by Paramount and David Ellison, and the murders of Alex Pretti and Renee Good (may their memory be a blessing).
Regardless of where one lies on the political spectrum, the suppression of First Amendment rights is something that affects everyone.
A lot of the tips that Skye offers don’t cost any money, nor that much time.
For instance, offering a ride to a neighbor who doesn’t drive but would like to vote, or accompanying one who is part of a marginalized community and may have fears about voting.
I really appreciated all of the resources and tips in this book.
We are all together in this, but sitting alone on the sidelines and hoping for the best is no longer an option.
Thank you to Ten Speed Press, NetGalley, and especially Skye Perryman for providing me with an eARC to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Upon leaving the final session of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was approached by a local woman (often identified as Elizabeth Willing Powel). She asked whether the delegates had created a republic or a monarchy. Franklin famously replied:
"A republic, if you can keep it."
Skye Perryman believes this and that it is up to the people, ordinary people, to protect it.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy is more than a book. It is a step by step guide on how to take action. A clear cut display of how it worked and how the reader can implement these steps. This book belongs in civics class in every school.
I heartily recommend this book.
I also recommend visiting
Ordinarypeopleaction.com
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC
"A republic, if you can keep it."
Skye Perryman believes this and that it is up to the people, ordinary people, to protect it.
Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times: How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy is more than a book. It is a step by step guide on how to take action. A clear cut display of how it worked and how the reader can implement these steps. This book belongs in civics class in every school.
I heartily recommend this book.
I also recommend visiting
Ordinarypeopleaction.com
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed how action focused this book was — many books in the anti-Trump genre are fantastic at pointing out all of the problems going on, but they really just catalogue them without spending more than a small chapter on how to change them. But this book dove into that more deeply, with practical options for creating change. I’m not American so can’t really contribute there, but even as a non-US reader, there are still insights here I can apply to my own experience here Down Under
I really enjoyed how action focused this book was — many books in the anti-Trump genre are fantastic at pointing out all of the problems going on, but they really just catalogue them without spending more than a small chapter on how to change them. But this book dove into that more deeply, with practical options for creating change. I’m not American so can’t really contribute there, but even as a non-US reader, there are still insights here I can apply to my own experience here Down Under
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews