Heart of the Nation: Volunteering and America's Civic Spirit

by John M. Bridgeland, John M. Bridgeland

Heart of the Nation traces America’s volunteer tradition—the golden thread of American democracy—and how Presidents from Washington to Obama have called on citizens to serve neighbor and nation. From the bunker below the White House on 9/11 to villages in Africa, John Bridgeland shares his own experiences inside and outside of government to spark more Americans to volunteer to meet urgent needs. He compellingly argues that such service is fundamental to our own happiness and to what the Founding Fathers envisioned when they talked about the “pursuit of Happiness” in the Declaration of Independence. Bridgeland helps the reader discover their own volunteer service mission and issues a rallying cry to the nation to heal our partisan divisions by joining together across party lines to address our toughest challenges.

192 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2012

Reviews

[Megan Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very optimistic in a way that is hard to read in the middle of the COVID pandemic and post 2020. However, Bridgeland writes very eloquently and lays out concrete plans and ideas for how to improve volunteering throughout American society.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

~3.5 I was glad he acknowledged that his successes weren’t only accomplished while in government. I even felt a tiny glimmer of hope that change can still happen (and needs to happen) in the nation even 12 years after this book was published.

[Regan Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing first hand account of the days in the White House following 911, eliminating party lines, and calling on all Americans to give back.