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Daring Democracy

Igniting Power, Meaning, and Connection for the America We Want

Authors: Frances Moore Lappé, Adam Eichen

An optimistic book for Americans who are asking, in the wake of Trump’s victory, What do we do now? The answer: We need to organize and fight to protect and expand our democracy.

Americans are distraught as tightly held economic and political power drowns out their voices and values. Legendary Diet for a Small Planet author Frances Moore Lappé and organizer-scholar Adam Eichen offer a fresh, surprising response to this core crisis. This intergenerational duo opens with an essential truth: It’s not the magnitude of a challenge that crushes the human spirit. It’s feeling powerless—in this case, fearing that to stand up for democracy is futile. It’s not, Lappé and Eichen argue. With riveting stories and little-known evidence, they demystify how we got here, exposing the well-orchestrated effort that has robbed Americans of their rightful power. But at the heart of this unique book are solutions. Even in this divisive time, Americans are uniting across causes and ideologies to create a “canopy of hope” the authors call the Democracy Movement. In this invigorating “movement of movements,” millions of Americans are leaving despair behind as they push for and achieve historic change. The movement and democracy itself are vital to us as citizens and fulfill human needs—for power, meaning, and connection—essential to our thriving. In this timely and necessary book, Lappé and Eichen offer proof that courage is contagious in the daring fight for democracy.

“Countering what they call a well-entrenched ‘Anti-Democracy Movement,’ the authors offer numerous solutions for its antithesis, a democracy-proud confluence of grassroots efforts. . . .With specific plans of action and encouraging words of support, Lappé and Eichen extend concrete hope to those who feel politically helpless.”
—Booklist

“Daring Democracy is a book deserving of the attention of everyone committed to the dream of a nation and a world that works for all.”
—Yes! Magazine

“It is all too easy to fall into despair, but instead we can join the many others who are ‘daring democracy’ in many ways, as we learn from this instructive account of hopeful prospects.”
—Noam Chomsky

“Now, more than ever, to save our democracy, every American needs to read Daring Democracy.”
—Ann Ravel, former chair of the Federal Elections Commission

“This book, perhaps better than any other, shows Americans that the democracy they want is possible.”
—Lawrence Lessig, author of Republic, Lost

“Extraordinarily timely. The book the Democracy Movement has been waiting for.”
—Wendy Fields, executive director, Democracy Initiative

“If you’re finding it tough to feel optimistic about the future of our democracy—and lately, who isn’t?—then you need to read this book. Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen make clear that building a positive, even joyful pro-democracy movement that restores power to ordinary Americans isn’t just possible—it’s already happening.”
—Zachary Roth, author of The Great Suppression: Voting Rights, Corporate Cash, and the Conservative Assault on Democracy

“Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen have written a wonderfully sunny book at an exceptionally dark moment in American politics. They tell us, and I think they are right, that we are witnessing the rise of a movement of movements, and that the movement draws on reservoirs of passion and capacity embedded in our very human nature. This movement of movements that we are beginning to call ‘the Resistance’ may very well save our democracy. So you need to read this book, and join the movement!”
—Frances Fox Piven

“In this cross-generational effort, Frances Moore Lappé and Adam Eichen capture and explore something very important about our moment in history. Amid the serious and intrusive challenges to our democracy, there is an energetic movement to tear down barriers, advance full participation, and create a democracy that works for everyone. And that movement is creative, is winning in many places, and is bringing new people into the fold. Daring Democracy is a great and uplifting read, so grab it and enjoy!”
—Miles Rapoport, Senior Practice Fellow in American Democracy at the Harvard Kennedy School and former president of Common Cause and Demos

“It is time for a daring democracy. This book is a passionate call to ‘transform fear into action.’ We should heed this message and join the movement for democracy!”
—Heather Booth, organizer and president of the Midwest Academy

“As someone who has been on the opposite side of anti-democracy forces, I can say firsthand that Lappé and Eichen speak to the problems plaguing our elections, while also offering compelling solutions. An important book for anyone who cares about democracy in America.”
—Zephyr Teachout, Associate Professor of Law at Fordham University

Praise for Frances Moore Lappé

“A small number of people in every generation are forerunners, in thought, action, spirit, who swerve past the barriers of greed and power to hold a torch high for the rest of us. Lappé is one of those.”
—Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States

OPENING NOTE
Why We Had to Write This Book

Part I: Rethinking the Crisis

CHAPTER ONE
What It Will Take

CHAPTER TWO
Bringing Down the Thought Barriers

Part II: Exposing the Roots

CHAPTER THREE
Manipulating the Mindset

CHAPTER FOUR
Rigging the Rules

Part III: Creating Solutions Together

CHAPTER FIVE
Democracy’s Calling

CHAPTER SIX
Meet the Democracy Movement

CHAPTER SEVEN
Listen Up, America!
North Carolina Has a Story to Tell

CHAPTER EIGHT
The Thrill of Democracy

CHAPTER NINE
Dare for Democracy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NOTES

INDEX