Democracy in One Book or Less LP : How It Works, Why It Doesn't, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think - David Litt

Democracy in One Book or Less LP

How It Works, Why It Doesn't, and Why Fixing It Is Easier Than You Think

By: David Litt

Paperback | 28 December 2022

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Bill Bryson meets Thomas Frank in the true story of how power-hungry politicians broke American democracy -- and why fixing it is easier than you think --from the New York Times bestselling author of Thanks, Obama

Here's something true for almost every American. The democracy you live in today is different - completely different - than the democracy you were born into.

Since 1980, the number of Americans legally barred from voting has more than doubled. Since the 1990s, your odds of living in a competitive Congressional district have fallen by more than half. In the twenty-first century alone, the amount of money spent on Washington lobbying has increased by more than 100 percent. Meanwhile, new rules in Congress make passing new bills nearly impossible, no matter how popular or bipartisan they are.

No wonder it feels like our representatives have stopped representing us. Thanks to changes you never agreed to, and that you probably don't even know about, your slice of power - your say in how your country is run - is smaller than it's ever been.

How did this happen? And how can we fix it before it's too late? That's what former Obama speechwriter David Litt set out to answer.

Millions of Americans now recognize that our democracy is in trouble, and that the trouble goes beyond Trump. But too often, we're looking in the wrong places for solutions. Voter suppression is real, but Voter ID laws aren't tipping elections. Getting rid of bizarrely shaped districts won't end gerrymandering. In fact, it would make gerrymandering worse. Calling for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn Citizens United is a nice gesture. But in the real world, it's the least effective type of campaign finance reform.

If We, the People, want to save our republic, we need to start by understanding it.

Poking into forgotten corners of history, Litt tells the true story of how the world's greatest experiment in democracy went awry. Translating political science into plain English, he explains how our system of government really works. Searching for solutions, he speaks to experts, office-holders, and activists nationwide.

He also tries to crash a party at Mitch McConnell's former frat house. It goes poorly.

But Democracy in One Book or Less is more than just an engaging narrative. Litt provides a to-do list of meaningful, practical changes - a blueprint for restoring the balance of power in America before it's too late.

Industry Reviews
"Brings Dave Barry-style humor to an illuminating book on what is wrong with American democracy -- and how to put it right. . . . Litt's playful stories and fun facts explode common wisdom. . . . In the book's strongest contribution, Litt shows how radically our democracy has been altered in recent decades [, making] the case that nearly all of these negative trends are occurring by design."--Washington Post
"[A] snappy and well-informed dissection of the current state of American democracy. . . Both optimistic and clear-eyed, this quip-filled call to action will resonate strongly with young progressives."--Publishers Weekly
"A pleasure to read, even in its darkest moments, and refreshingly optimistic about the future of the republic."--Kirkus Reviews
"Casts a welcome, cleansing beam of light on a subject that has become increasingly murky and frustratingly confusing . . . Litt has a breezy, often conversational tone, but that in no way diminishes the force of his argument. Politics has changed, and not in a good way. But there are ways American democracy can be fixed, and it is to Litt's credit that he offers practical albeit challenging solutions to the problems confronting our system of governance."--Booklist (starred review)
"Strikingly timely. . . . [Litt] offers ways to fix governmental ills that stymie all Americans and does so with a breezy and accessible wit."--The Guardian
"Remarkably prescient and applicable. It's rare to feel good about the way things are going, but Litt's book will get you there."--Elle, "23 Books That Will Put You in a Good Mood, Guaranteed"
"Litt's book laces his signature humor into his exploration of American Democracy and how it has transformed over the years."--Time, "45 New Books You Need to Read This Summer"
"Democracy in One Book or Less is by turns funny and illuminating. Litt combines his trademark humor and witty writing with an urgent call to fix American democracy. It's a tragicomedy that makes you a better citizen while you laugh and shake your head in disbelief at our broken system."--Brian Klaas, assistant professor of global politics at University College London and columnist for the Washington Post
"I'm so relieved to have this book at this moment in our political climate, a guide to our democracy when we so desperately need one."--Abbi Jacobson, co-creator and co-star of Broad City and author of I Might Regret This
"If you want to understand how our government really works without having a panic attack or a migraine, read this book. The way David tells stories about politics is funny, informative, and, most important, hopeful. David Litt dares to remain inspired, and that is what the conversation around politics needs most."--Ilana Glazer, co-creator and co-star of Broad City
"You think you know about politics and the motivations and machinations of Washington--and then you read this book. A wildly entertaining and informative journey that peels back the curtain on how the Beltway functions, David Litt's latest is a must-read for anyone who can't look away from the 'what' of the news and wants to understand the 'why.'"--Amie Parnes, co-author of Shattered: Inside Hillary Clinton's Doomed Campaign
"Hilarious and incisive. If you want to understand what happened to America and how to change it, Democracy in One Book or Less will make you laugh and think, all at the same time."--David Axelrod, former senior advisor to Barack Obama and author of Believer: My Forty Years in Politics

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