The Story Behind the Book "How to Save Democracy"

Heads up that Biden's 2nd Summit for Democracy is approaching on March 29 and 30.

It might sound quaint to say, but at the end of December 2021 when President Biden declared 2022 to be “A Year of Action” for making a difference in the future of democracy, I took him seriously and decided to step up.

Already inspired by what I had heard from the speeches of the world leaders at the first Summit for Democracy, I went back and listened to all of them (more than a hundred in total), distilling countless hours of discourse into a short book of 433 quotations.

Some of the quotations are beautiful. Others penetrate deep truths about democracy. All of them help us to better understand democracy, love it more, and deepen our commitment to fight for it—nonviolently, fiercely, and strategically.

I organized the quotations into a makeshift book, and then a funny thing happened. I held a Zoom call with Josh Graham Lynn, the CEO of the nonprofit RepresentUS, who asked if he could borrow quotations from the book to give inspiration to his organization’s followers on social media.

I said yes. Then a few weeks later, we agreed to partner on bringing the book to fruition.

Josh wrote the Preface, and now we are working together to advance the mission of the book.

Another time I will share Josh’s Preface. It’s worth reading.

Not only did Josh, Ross Sherman, and others at RepresentUs get behind the book. So did dozens of friends, family members, journalists, activists, and a few politicians I know.

I inquired with some of them if they would write endorsements for the book. Here are a few:

At a time when democracies around the world are under assault, How to Save Democracy reminds us that ethical leadership and moral courage form the backbone of democracies that survive and thrive. Unsparing in cataloging the challenges and threats confronting democracy today, this book is a source of hope and inspiration for all who care about preserving and strengthening our democracy.
—Nancy-Ann DeParle, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for President Barack Obama (2011-2013)

We have all heard—certainly after Jan. 6, 2021—that we cannot take democracy for granted. But what does that mean in practice? As Eli Merritt shows in this slim, powerful volume, it means enacting and defending a specific set of human values and ensuring that there is accountability whenever those values are attacked. By quoting today's world leaders on the importance of democracy, Merritt has performed an invaluable service: to hold the powerful to their word, while holding the rest of us—the people—responsible for protecting the best system of government yet devised. 
—Jesse Wegman, Member of the New York Times Editorial Board and author of Let the People Pick the President

How to Save Democracy: Advice and Inspiration from 95 World Leaders is being released on March 14 in anticipation of the 2nd Summit (March 29 and 30).

If Amazon is not your favorite bookseller, here it is on Barnes and Noble.

RepresentUs believes in grassroots changes in our democracy that take place at the state level, expanding outward from there.

To get a feel for what RepresentUs does, check out these videos they made in collaboration with actors Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Douglas, Omar Epps, Ed Helms, and others.

The book, like the upcoming second summit, is important because it advances values of ethical constitutional democracy against demagoguery, corruption, and authoritarianism. It is also highly readable.

You can read one or two quotations per day to stir your imagination or a conversation.

To give the quotations further reach, we will be sharing many of them, chapter by chapter, right here on American Commonwealth as we approach the 2nd Summit.

There is something important you can do to help, too—if you’re willing.

Get behind the book. Spread its hope, inspiration, and the democracy-strengthening values it embodies.

One way to do that is to take a moment to share this and future emails about the book and the summit with others:

Another way is to share with me ideas you think might help expand the reach and the impact of the book:

Thank you.