Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself

by Amanda Litman, Hillary Rodham Clinton (Foreword)

The must-have guide for young progressives looking to run for local office, complete with contributions from elected officials and political operatives.You’ve been depressed since the night of November 8, 2016. You wore black to work the next morning. You berated yourself for your complacency during the Obama years. You ranted on Twitter. You deleted Twitter. You sent emails to your friends saying, “How can we get more involved?” You listened to Pod Save America. You knit­ted a pussyhat. You showed up to the Women’s March on Washington. You protested Donald Trump’s executive orders. You called your congressman. You called other people’s congressmen. You set up monthly donations to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU. You reactivated Twitter (begrudgingly).Here’s what you do Run for something.To be Run for local office and become the change you want to see in the world. Forget about Con­gress. Forget about the Senate. Focus on the offices that get the real sh*t state legislatures, city councils, school boards, and mayors.It doesn’t matter if you’re not a white man over sixty with an Ivy League law degree. (In fact, it’s better if you’re not!)It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand the first thing about running for office, or never even imagined you would. That’s what this book is for.Amanda Litman, experienced in hard-fought state and national election campaigns, is here to give you guid­ance as well as wisdom and insight from elected officials and political operatives she interviewed for this book.There are half a million elected officials in the United States. Why can’t you be one of them?

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Self Help, Audiobook, Unfinished, Activism, How To

241 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2017

About the author

Amanda Litman is the cofounder and president of Run for Something, which recruits and supports young, diverse leaders running for local office -- since 2017, they’ve launched the careers of thousands of millennials and Gen Z candidates and in the process, changed what leadership looks like in America. She’s also the author of “Run for Something: A Real-Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself,” (Atria) a how-to manual for people running for office.

Before launching Run for Something, Amanda worked on multiple presidential and statewide political campaigns. She graduated from Northwestern University and lives in Brooklyn with her husband, two daughters, and their sometimes rowdy dog.

Reviews

[Williesun · Rating 4 out of 5]

You may ask yourself why I, a German, read a guide on how to run for office in the US. Well, I, like the author herself, am a news junkie and huge The West Wing fan. American politics are fascinating, even if it's more like a garbage fire on kerosine right now. Nevertheless, learning more about the process and the different positions in politics was interesting. Plus, now I have something to point to, in case one of my friends in the US may have political aspirations.

The guide is easy to read and features lots of contributions from people who have successfully run for office. It's directed at Democrats and not so much Republicans though I guess the principles will be the same only some of the resources will vary. It's very pushy in the best of ways and Litman doesn't shy away from criticising the Democratic Party, which I guess is fair.

All in all, this was pretty interesting and the election process is quite different to that in Germany. The more you know!

[Shari Suarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and snarky guide to running for office that is meant for liberals and people upset about last year's elections. It's an interesting look at how to run a campaign, particularly for something local. It isn't just for people wanting to run for office though. The author is adept at giving you a civics 101 lesson as well as letting you know how to support candidates that you want to vote for. If you're easily offended by swearing or if you're a conservative, this book isn't for you.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinarily practical, useful, no-BS advice for running for office or running a campaign. Funny and inspiring but most of all: HELPFUL.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

According to this book, written for those age 34 and under, I am too old to run for something. Thank goodness for that!

Even so, it is a powerful tool for the younger generation(s) to have as they ponder entering the political landscape. It's brutally honest and full of resources to help any young person who wants to run for office have a good campaign. Or for those who don't like the limelight, volunteer on and support a campaign or candidate.

I bought a copy to give to a young man that I'd like to see run for something.

Overall, worth the time. I hope the movement succeeds in bringing up a crop of inspired, progressive candidates in time for 2018 and 2020.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I'll be recommending to all my politically-minded friends. After reading this book, running for office some day feels like an inevitability instead of a what if. Even if you're just looking for more ways to become more involved in politics, you gotta read this one.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be a very helpful book with lots and lots of resources outlined for people who want to run for office. I'll definitely be referencing this book in the future!!

[LiviaRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basic and insightful

[Njon Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that cemented my decision to run for office and the book that will be required reading for anyone who works on my campaign. It sheds light on the nuts and bolts of the process and details how to run an honest campaign that represents the best of the candidate. Much of the content seems commonsensical but it's the validating kind that you need to hear from a trusted professional. My best read this year!

[Wes Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid insight into the ins & outs of running for office. Love the personal anecdotes, focus on local government.

[Gregg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for an overview on how to get involved in politics, how to make a difference, and learn how the system works. Instead, this book was a stream of consciousness written far too close to an election loss (Hillary Clinton) by someone that was too personally invested in that campaign to take an objective view. This is not well written and falls back on vulgarity and bashing the current administration far too often. There is a good portion of this book where the author tries to motivate and inspire a new generation of progressives--it comes off as a pep-talk on the deck of the Titanic as the last lifeboats paddle away.

A good book of this genre would have an author from each side of the aisle and alternate between parties to actually cover how to run for something. A book like that might actually succeed in motivating and inspiring people to become involved. I am looking for a political book that works to unite and find common ground. This is not it. A savvy political operative would do a far better job of not alienating white men during an unabashed recruiting pitch for females and minorities--Litman failed in this regard.

I do not recommend this book.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great insight into the political industrial complex.

Offers different ways to think about how you can make a difference whether it's running for office yourself or helping out on a campaign.

Lots of emphasis on state and local office as those are the positions that have the greatest impact on daily life for citizens within a state vs. the federal govt. That being said, federal level politics and those positions are still covered in good detail here.

Litman keeps the book lite, conversational, and makes the information easy to digest. Each chapter also ends with insights from someone who serves or has served in public office.

Highly motivating, inspirational, and practical. Running for office is NOT easy. But with resources like the Run For Something PAC that Litman created, there's no excuse to not try. I would encourage anyone who thinks they want to stand up and make a difference to pick up a copy and get started. You can't wait. We need you now!

[Kirsten Bansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting "how-to" manual for everyone who wonders about the actual nuts and bolts of getting involved. I liked the nuts and bolts best--I liked the hardcore unhealthy ubercompetitive politics-as-a-game part the least. It's also strange to think about how drastically the world has changed since this book was published way back in 2017.

Illuminating--the heavy emphasis on social media (would love to see discussion about how a person can contribute to civic life if she finds social media distracting and unhealthy--appointed or volunteer boards and commissions come to mind).

A take-away: the local candidates I've supported don't even seem to check the basic boxes in terms of network-building and cultivating donors and volunteers. Maybe they need help.

[Phantom_fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book does a great job talking about the why and the how. However, I don't agree with the idea that running for or assisting people to run a person has to sacrifice their own bodies to make it happen. I feel like this is the perpetuation of the if you really care, or are a hard worker you'll die making it happen and I just think that's a bad ideology. I agree there might be a lack of sleep some nights, but that you have to eat nothing but junk food for years to make it happen?

[Maura Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really great overview of campaigns even if you're not thinking of running. I especially appreciated the sections on how to get involved if you're not the candidate. Loved the author's no nonsense advice. A wonderful, empowering guide on how to improve our country in the age of Trump.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was interesting to read this book in the midst of the mid term elections when 100 women got significant public service positions. The audiobook was great because the sections from contributing writers were read by the actual people.

[Kim Healy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a good, resourceful book with but as a Republican woman considering a run for office, there was a few too many negative comments that were really insulting and unnecessary. We should all be supporting each other as woman running for office regardless of party affiliation.

[Ann Garth]

I don’t want to run for anything, so I shouldn’t be surprised that this book didn’t do much for me. It did help me figure out ways to support the campaigns of people I care about (which is why I read it), but I knew a lot of the content already. I would recommend it if anyone is considering running for something.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't plan on running, but I would definitely recommend this to anyone who does or to anyone who has EVER considered it. Definitely inspired me to volunteer more and to donate! What an amazing organization.

[Jodi Geever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in the immediate wake of RBG's passing--September 2020. This timing made reading this one particularly difficult (emotionally) to read because of its periodic references to RBG.

[Christine B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and informative. (I'm not planning on running, but I thought it would be useful for thinking about political organizing.)

[Courtney Mccarthy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really wasn’t for me because I do not plan on running for any elected positions but I did learn a lot about the process.

[Becca Tullman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide broke down the overwhelming process of wondering where to even start with running for something into clear concise pieces with lots of specific usable advice. It also included suggestions for how and what to search on Google to get more into depth. Even if you have no intention of running, it's a quick and clear read that can demystify some of the political process and give you a few hints of other ways to become an engaged and active citizen.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 starts for the concept alone. A how to guide for someone who wants to create positive change in their community instead of simply complaining. I thought the author spent more time talking down certain political parties and candidates. This made what could have been a timeless book very “2017.” She also spends some time speaking about image which I wish she would have taken to heart. As a millennial woman who is also a public servant I would never use the language she used around the people I serve, let alone allow it to be printed. If you want us to be taken more seriously, help our image in a positive way please. But otherwise so much yes. Yes Yes Yes. More of these books should exist.

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this fast-paced no-nonsense guide; I wish I had found it earlier in my own campaign! Many of the tactics weren't applicable to my small race, but were insightful nonetheless. Highly recommend this to anyone who's frustrated with our government - it has some great rationale around why you should run for a local office, and how it's not as difficult as you think.

[Tess Huelskamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

decent book outlining steps you'd need to run for local office (read it before giving it as a gift ;) ).

I just pursed this book but if you were seriously considering that id imagine it'd be helpful. tone was encouraging and sarcastic (but not overly so IMO) and the necessary information was organized and easy to find

if I were actually considering running I'm sure this would be a good resource; even though I'm not there were a lot of instructions for what to do to get more involved

[Monical · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected to thumb through this and not really read it, but I got caught up in the honesty and directness of the text along with the imperative to do something. I have often thought that the current resistance movement lacks the guts for the next steps-- its not enough to protest, you have to VOTE and you have to ELECT alternative candidates! and help fashion the policies that will bring us back to some semblance of humanity. I plan to buy copies of this book as a guide for myself and for some other like minded friends.

[Cynthia Turner · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the information and the order it was given, for how one would go about getting elected for a political office. It is a useful book for those reasons.

[kylie clark]

DNF @ 35% Honestly forgot I was reading this

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decisions are made by those who show up. In the wake of the 2016 election there has been a wave of people who have decided they will run for office. Seats previously left uncontested, leaving the incumbent to coast to re-elections were challenged. Seats previously held by one party comfortably for years, maybe even decades, were flipped to the other party. In an off-year election, usually there is little interest in running for office. Not this time.
 
Author Litman is one of the people behind the organization called Run for Something. You may have heard of it as a group that helps recruit young people (although it's my understanding you don't have to be young) to run for local office. Litman lays out why people should run, how to do it (or at least a blueprint), and an overview of what to expect. There's breaking down of campaign roles. Testimonies from campaign people and candidates/officeholders who won on how and why they did it. There are explanations as to why Litman urges people to run and what both the candidate and the community (and even the opponent) can gain from running (even if the candidate loses to a long-term incumbent).
 
I don't want to run for office and wasn't convinced by the book to run (but I wasn't looking to be so). And while I've never worked on a campaign I've worked in supporting roles and around campaigns, so much of this was familiar to me. But I still got a lot out of it by Litman's breakdown of everything. The media tends to focus on "big" races like President, governorships, Congress, etc. Your local school board or state House/Senate probably doesn't get a lot of print or airwaves unless something scandalous breaks. I really appreciated Litman's look at these local races and breaking down how running for your local school board is going to be extremely different than a massive operation like running for president. There's a very good chance that it'll just be you and a couple of friends (one friend?) who will be helping you and I'm glad Litman was honest about that.
 
That said, the book is not without its problems (that might not be a problem but me being nitpicky). I really wish there had been an appendix or further reading or resources guide at the end. There's a glossary but no index, either. The book is fairly well-organized and the index wasn't necessary (especially with Google) but this guide is not (and I don't think should be) an end-all because as Litman says herself she can't break down every single thing in a campaign. She does urge the reader to Google and to get in touch with local organizations but a resource guide at the end would have been great. Also, if you're a Republican or conservative or on the right, etc. Litman makes it pretty clear she's a Democrat, despite all the problems with the Democratic Party and its members and gears her book to that audience/aligned people and groups. So you've been warned. Litman also does occasionally cuss but it's not overbearing. If that's something that *really* bothers you, though, then you should perhaps put down the book and not run for office because you'll be shocked by the language on a campaign.
 
I also say that as a starter guide it also doesn't really address what particular issues women, people of color, people with disabilities, LGBT individuals, etc. may face. Litman does note that certain groups may have particular issues or resources that are geared towards them but beyond stating that people will sometimes be mean and/or unhelpful and not to let it get to you the book the book doesn't really address needs of candidates from groups that might need to adjust or find other resources.
 
So I'm also not sure if it's true that Litman says you don't need a thick skin to run for local office.While it's true they're probably not as vicious as a Congressional/Presidential (or even Governor's) race but in the age of social media sometimes you can find local races even more mean because it's local and there is a chance you know someone or know someone who knows someone, etc. This might be just me, though. And I appreciate that Litman (and others) were very honest at how brutal a campaign can be on one personally in terms of health, family, friendships, etc. 
 
As a sidenote: I think that even if you don't want to run, don't want to volunteer for a campaign (which Litman urges people to do if they don't want to run or don't want to run right now), the book is enormously helpful in understanding campaign basics. No, you don't get a convoluted breakdown of campaign finance laws or how various groups work with each other. But I really couldn't help but think of arguments/memes that betrayed a genuine lack of understanding of campaign structures, how they function, etc. There are a lot of people who would benefit from reading this book. As Litman herself says, this has to go beyond marching and complaining. Change will only come if one runs for office and WINS. And the voters can do their part by not only showing up to vote (and helping others vote) but by actually understanding what a campaign does and what a candidate (and their staff) may have to go through. 
 
Overall I liked it. I didn't know what to expect and I really just wanted to support her and RFS. I don't think I've read a book quite like this before but I'd say it's a good place to start if you want to run for office and want something that's not online/to keep with you. Might make an excellent gift for a potential candidate or campaign staffer too.
 
Decisions are made by those who show up. Good luck in your campaign.

[Anoop · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read, super informative. Will def consult this book a lot in the coming months.