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Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps
From your friends at Pod Save America and Crooked Media comes a useful and illustrated guide to saving American democracy just in time for the 2024 election and 2025 insurrection
If you’re looking to navigate the chaotic, dunce-infested waters of American politics, Democracy or Else is here to help you tackle what might be the greatest question of our How do you get involved in the political process and make a real difference without giving in to the sense of impending dread that hangs over our society like a nameless stench? Each chapter will take readers step-by-step through the perilous journey of:
- Getting informed when you won't know which influencer to trust (all of them!)
- Donating and volunteering where you can have the biggest impact
- Organizing, protesting, and even running for office yourself
- Staying engaged in politics without losing hope or your mind or all of your friends
Democracy or Else is a resource for everyone—from political junkies following every turn of the news cycle to young people getting ready to vote for the first time. And it's filled with practical advice from some of the smartest experts and least annoying politicians around. The stakes and average global temperatures have never been higher—but there have also never been so many opportunities to join the fight. It’s an age of contradictions!
If you’re looking to navigate the chaotic, dunce-infested waters of American politics, Democracy or Else is here to help you tackle what might be the greatest question of our How do you get involved in the political process and make a real difference without giving in to the sense of impending dread that hangs over our society like a nameless stench? Each chapter will take readers step-by-step through the perilous journey of:
- Getting informed when you won't know which influencer to trust (all of them!)
- Donating and volunteering where you can have the biggest impact
- Organizing, protesting, and even running for office yourself
- Staying engaged in politics without losing hope or your mind or all of your friends
Democracy or Else is a resource for everyone—from political junkies following every turn of the news cycle to young people getting ready to vote for the first time. And it's filled with practical advice from some of the smartest experts and least annoying politicians around. The stakes and average global temperatures have never been higher—but there have also never been so many opportunities to join the fight. It’s an age of contradictions!
192 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
564 people are currently reading
7047 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 498 reviews
June 27, 2024
I'm a regular listener to the Pod Save America podcast. They are former Obama staffers and they tend to be more to the right than me. My politics are much closer to Bernie Sanders, Sam Seder and Hasan Piker but I like to know what the liberals are up to.
Democracy or Else is quick little election year read to help you not want to throw yourself into the Ohio river before November( or is that just me). Instead of being depressed and hopeless about politics they give you 10 easy steps to save America or just not kill yourself.
It's a quick easy read. It's informative and slightly funny. Look we are still doomed but maybe we can hold things off for a little while longer. I live in Kentucky so I haven't lived in a Democracy since my early childhood or ever really. I'm voting for Jill Stein in November because I have the freedom of not having a vote that matters and I just can't vote for people who support the genocide of the Palestinians.....but I also recognize that Trump is danger to me as a Black woman so those of you who live in swing states should just hold your nose and vote for Genocide Joe.
No recommendations other than to vote and not just in presidential elections school boards and library board are being taken over by Moms for Liberty so vote at every level.
Democracy or Else is quick little election year read to help you not want to throw yourself into the Ohio river before November( or is that just me). Instead of being depressed and hopeless about politics they give you 10 easy steps to save America or just not kill yourself.
It's a quick easy read. It's informative and slightly funny. Look we are still doomed but maybe we can hold things off for a little while longer. I live in Kentucky so I haven't lived in a Democracy since my early childhood or ever really. I'm voting for Jill Stein in November because I have the freedom of not having a vote that matters and I just can't vote for people who support the genocide of the Palestinians.....but I also recognize that Trump is danger to me as a Black woman so those of you who live in swing states should just hold your nose and vote for Genocide Joe.
No recommendations other than to vote and not just in presidential elections school boards and library board are being taken over by Moms for Liberty so vote at every level.
November 6, 2024
Welp. We chose "or Else".
Americans chose hate and fear and misogyny and racism over competence and experience and love.
Voting for Trump yesterday was a vote against everything you claim to hold dear - the rule of law, the Constitution, your families, friends, future generations, the planet. You sold your country out to a felon who lies and insults you to your face and you cheer for it. So I hope it was worth it to you.
I wish that you could have loved America more than you loved his hate.
Americans chose hate and fear and misogyny and racism over competence and experience and love.
Voting for Trump yesterday was a vote against everything you claim to hold dear - the rule of law, the Constitution, your families, friends, future generations, the planet. You sold your country out to a felon who lies and insults you to your face and you cheer for it. So I hope it was worth it to you.
I wish that you could have loved America more than you loved his hate.
August 27, 2024
Voting can’t fix everything, but without voting, we can’t fix anything.
…
A healthy, functioning democracy requires all of us to be involved all the goddamn time. And yes, we all have jobs and responsibilities and new episodes of Selling Sunset to catch up on, but the alternative here is … We’ll, we’re living in it babe.
…
Our government only works as well as the people who choose to make public service a profession and view it as a calling.
Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps is a practical guide to different ways you can get involved in today’s political process in America. The steps start with things a person can do solo: getting informed (which is not so easy in today’s fractured media environment), the importance of voting in every election, and how to effectively donate money to candidates and campaigns. Then come the steps where someone can try to influence others: how to talk to people about voting and whom to vote for, different ways to volunteer for a campaign from writing postcards to canvassing, and an explanation of what organizing is, why it matters, and how to do it. Finally, the book explores the steps where you could choose a public service role yourself, from jobs in politics and/or in government, or even stepping up and running for office.
If you’re like me and you’ve listened to every episode of the Pod Save America podcast, including the original ones in 2016 on Bill Simmons’s Ringer Network when the podcast was first called Keeping It 1600, there won’t be much here that you haven’t heard before. But Democracy or Else is written for a general audience. It’s a quick read that has a lot of humor and an often irrelevant tone. While the advice could be equally applied by anyone of either party, the writers all worked in the Obama administration, so I’ll let you guess which side is usually the target of the jokes. 😄 Highly recommended for anyone looking to get more involved.
July 7, 2024
I have not been in a good place lately and this book from the Pod Save America boys really helped. It's full of very smart advice and it's also very funny. I feel more hopeful now. Esp after seeing a pic of that fascist witch Marine Le Pen weeping bitter tears of defeat on French television like literally an hour ago. If our friends across the pond can beat back a dictatorship so can we.
July 30, 2024
4.25 - a quick political read that doesn’t bore you, and adds some much needed humor along the way. I am a regular listener of Pod Save America and find these former Obama White House Aids very interesting to listen too. Their interactive writing style is very similar to the way they interact on their podcast. I really like the connection between these colleagues and friends. I found the book to be informative and worth the read.
June 29, 2024
This is a funny book with a very cursory review of how the political process works with some experiences shared about activism and getting involved in politics. I learned nothing new but I had fun with this. This is a great book for a young adult.
June 27, 2024
Quick, fun lil read. Great library get. I’m not sure who the target audience is because to some extent I feel like their podcast audience doesn’t really need an explainer of how or why to register to vote. However I’ll speak for myself- I found it useful as someone who was once obsessed with politics but is now so disillusioned by the Democratic Party and Joe Biden that I’ve been seriously considering not voting. I thought Lovett’s point re: voting not being about the candidate and being about which one brings you closer to the world you want to see was a good one, and contextualized following the section about volunteering, etc, I felt like it changed my thinking. Next time I will find a candidate who has a substantial plan for healthcare and better foreign policy much earlier on and try to make a difference for them. Election year is too late to whine about hating your candidate options.
June 21, 2024
ARC for review. To be published June 25, 2024.
This is from the guys at Pod Save America (which I know about, but haven’t listened too…I only listen to a few podcasts) and it’s intended to be “practical advice” for getting involved with politics and saving our democracy.
Nobody is playing hide the ball here. They note, “we started PSA and Crooked Media because, like slightly more than half the electorate we were alarmed by what Donald Trump and his coterie of goons would do to democracy, which - let’s be honest - had a few issues before they arrived on the scene.” So may it sell millions of copies.
Note that in the most recent Democracy Index, out of 167 democracies around the world, the U.S. ranks 30th. That seems….a little high, given our current Supreme Court and Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election.
This is an irreverent, basic primer, perfect as a gift for a high school or college student. Or young adult. Buy em all copies. Cause this mess ain’t gonna right itself.
This is from the guys at Pod Save America (which I know about, but haven’t listened too…I only listen to a few podcasts) and it’s intended to be “practical advice” for getting involved with politics and saving our democracy.
Nobody is playing hide the ball here. They note, “we started PSA and Crooked Media because, like slightly more than half the electorate we were alarmed by what Donald Trump and his coterie of goons would do to democracy, which - let’s be honest - had a few issues before they arrived on the scene.” So may it sell millions of copies.
Note that in the most recent Democracy Index, out of 167 democracies around the world, the U.S. ranks 30th. That seems….a little high, given our current Supreme Court and Trump’s refusal to accept the outcome of the 2020 election.
This is an irreverent, basic primer, perfect as a gift for a high school or college student. Or young adult. Buy em all copies. Cause this mess ain’t gonna right itself.
July 25, 2024
This eight-step plan on how to secure democracy was written by three-fourths of the Pod Save America crew — Jon Favreau, Tommy Vietor and Jon Lovett — plus Josh Halloway, a writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live. (Pod Save America member Dan Pfeiffer isn’t credited.) I know the book boasts 10 steps, but two of the steps don’t really apply to us commonfolk.
I listen to Pod Save America, but that’s definitely not necessary to thoroughly enjoy this simple-to-understand primer on how little ol’ you can step up and make a difference. The gang explains how to speak to family, friends and neighbors in a way that’s not off-putting and enumerate dozens of ways to help local, state and national campaigns, whether issues or candidates. Or even run for office yourself! Highly, highly, highly recommended.
I listen to Pod Save America, but that’s definitely not necessary to thoroughly enjoy this simple-to-understand primer on how little ol’ you can step up and make a difference. The gang explains how to speak to family, friends and neighbors in a way that’s not off-putting and enumerate dozens of ways to help local, state and national campaigns, whether issues or candidates. Or even run for office yourself! Highly, highly, highly recommended.
March 16, 2025
DEMOCRACY OR ELSE is a somewhat snarky, very current, upbeat lesson
in civics and a handbook for those who want to know how to be more
politically engaged.
Peppering their slim tract with a little well-placed profanity, the three young
activists write from experience . They currently do a popular podcast called
"Pod Save America" ; all three came up through the ranks in a variety of
volunteer campaign jobs and worked together as Obama White House Aides.
This is a civics lesson that would have kept your attention in high school.
A primer for the new generation that will surely garner new recruits, even
future politicians.
'DEMOCRACY' was the goal of this book, even if our democracy didn't have
all the answers, even if it was an imperfect democracy. Nothing is perfect,
after all. But a democracy for all where everybody counts is a good thing.
Unfortunately, not enough always-voters, undecided voters or even peple
who cared about what they HAD took the advice in this book. Even though
it was released in June of 2024. Even though there was still time.
But the lies had been constant ; the lies were convincing. They were loud.
It's so much easier to be told what to believe than to read and form your own
opinion. You know, the grass is always greener ?
So the election came and went.
Now America has to live with the 'OR ELSE' part of the title.
in civics and a handbook for those who want to know how to be more
politically engaged.
Peppering their slim tract with a little well-placed profanity, the three young
activists write from experience . They currently do a popular podcast called
"Pod Save America" ; all three came up through the ranks in a variety of
volunteer campaign jobs and worked together as Obama White House Aides.
This is a civics lesson that would have kept your attention in high school.
A primer for the new generation that will surely garner new recruits, even
future politicians.
'DEMOCRACY' was the goal of this book, even if our democracy didn't have
all the answers, even if it was an imperfect democracy. Nothing is perfect,
after all. But a democracy for all where everybody counts is a good thing.
Unfortunately, not enough always-voters, undecided voters or even peple
who cared about what they HAD took the advice in this book. Even though
it was released in June of 2024. Even though there was still time.
But the lies had been constant ; the lies were convincing. They were loud.
It's so much easier to be told what to believe than to read and form your own
opinion. You know, the grass is always greener ?
So the election came and went.
Now America has to live with the 'OR ELSE' part of the title.
July 29, 2024
Funny, informative, and thankfully not anxiety provoking.
December 23, 2024
It’s a bunch of not particularly smart ideas packaged in a very digestible format. Stuff like “our democracy is broken” and “we should redo the electoral college.” I think 5-10 years ago I would have loved this. Now it just seems like an out of touch uncle explaining how the new flavors of Dr Pepper are an abomination.
This book suffers from a common issue I see with media types. You have to say SOMETHING all the time. You don’t have to say something correct or accurate or informed you just have to say SOMETHING. So instead of re-trying the same old core issues that make up most of why people vote for people, we start getting into these far off vestiges of speculation and fantastical problem-solving. And this will alienate every single person who reads this review but it’s this process that has led to something like abortion becoming a political issue. It’s beyond ridiculous for both sides. It’s a contrivance to moral outrage designed to fuel dissatisfaction and fear. We should litigate Botox next.
Maybe, the issue is people like the author, who instill a sense of “oh jeez aren’t we smart” while saying a lot of nothing. It’s a grift. Maybe, just maybe, the solution is not to blame whole swaths of the population and to think up new ways to invalidate their decisions while demonizing their beliefs. Maybe, the way out is through actually making people’s lives better. But since that doesn’t make a fun podcast-turned-book we didn’t get that. Maybe they can draw a nice illustration of them losing an election or something as a consolation
This book suffers from a common issue I see with media types. You have to say SOMETHING all the time. You don’t have to say something correct or accurate or informed you just have to say SOMETHING. So instead of re-trying the same old core issues that make up most of why people vote for people, we start getting into these far off vestiges of speculation and fantastical problem-solving. And this will alienate every single person who reads this review but it’s this process that has led to something like abortion becoming a political issue. It’s beyond ridiculous for both sides. It’s a contrivance to moral outrage designed to fuel dissatisfaction and fear. We should litigate Botox next.
Maybe, the issue is people like the author, who instill a sense of “oh jeez aren’t we smart” while saying a lot of nothing. It’s a grift. Maybe, just maybe, the solution is not to blame whole swaths of the population and to think up new ways to invalidate their decisions while demonizing their beliefs. Maybe, the way out is through actually making people’s lives better. But since that doesn’t make a fun podcast-turned-book we didn’t get that. Maybe they can draw a nice illustration of them losing an election or something as a consolation
June 19, 2024
“In 2018 it won. In 2020 it won. In 2022 it won. And no matter when you’re reading this, democracy can win again.”
‘Democracy or Else’ is a witty, direct, and personal guide to how we can still collectively, well, save democracy. Jon, Jon, and Tommy bring their knowledge, experience, and humor into a digestible quick read that had me genuinely chuckling and misty-eyed by the end. They relight the fire of my cold, brittle former-organizer’s heart through each step and personal anecdote, and remind me why I so desperately wanted to begin organizing as a 17 year old in a deep-red district in Arizona before the 2016 election. If there’s anything you take from this book, let it be that democracy begins and ends with us, and with this book you have the tools to do something about it.
(P.S. I did in fact check with my friends from the 2020 Gary Peters campaign to confirm his sexuality LOL)
‘Democracy or Else’ is a witty, direct, and personal guide to how we can still collectively, well, save democracy. Jon, Jon, and Tommy bring their knowledge, experience, and humor into a digestible quick read that had me genuinely chuckling and misty-eyed by the end. They relight the fire of my cold, brittle former-organizer’s heart through each step and personal anecdote, and remind me why I so desperately wanted to begin organizing as a 17 year old in a deep-red district in Arizona before the 2016 election. If there’s anything you take from this book, let it be that democracy begins and ends with us, and with this book you have the tools to do something about it.
(P.S. I did in fact check with my friends from the 2020 Gary Peters campaign to confirm his sexuality LOL)
June 8, 2024
Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps is an informative, quick, and hilarious read for anyone suffering from the existential dread that comes from having “The Most Important Election in Our Lifetimes” for the 5th time in a row. Long time listeners of Pod Save America and other Crooked Media properties will appreciate the jokes and stories of their favorite elder millennial podcast hosts, while those who have never listened to the show will be thankful that lessons from over 800 podcast episodes has been distilled into 10 easy steps. Despite having a background in politics and being a voracious consumer of political media/theory/philosophy, I enjoyed every second of this book like the podcast for your eyes that it is!
March 10, 2024
If you're looking for how to become more involved in our political system and you like to laugh, this is most definitely the book for you. Read along as three of the hosts of Pod Save America tell you just how to effect change at any level of government. With plenty of advice from the experts and plenty of humor from the hosts, Democracy or Else is a quick, fun, and informative read.
Release Date: 6/25/2024
Release Date: 6/25/2024
September 9, 2024
I’ll be honest: I pre-ordered to support Vote Save America, picked this up in early July, and was only flipping through for the jokes. Apathy—and a fear-based conviction to vote, and get others to—was all I had. Then, after the dramatic presidential campaign shift on 7/21, the VP pick (as a Minnesotan, hell yes!), and the DNC, I got…gasp…excited?! About national politics?! And potential policies on the docket?! A MIRACLE I know I’m not alone in experiencing. We’ve got a long way to go, and this book might just make the journey a little more energizing and a little funnier. (It did for me!)
August 31, 2024
Not a lot new here if you’re a regular PSA listener, but a quick read and informative for someone who is starting more fresh into getting involved. Won’t age well, but built specifically for our time (and hopefully we *do* democracy, not the “else”).
July 1, 2024
Wrong day to finish this.
August 4, 2024
Clever and funny primer on democracy requiring us all to be involved. I’m still mad at these guys for trashing Biden!
August 4, 2024
This is your friendly reminder that early voting for state and federal general elections opens the third week of October. Mark your calendars!
September 26, 2024
There were some good points and ideas, but it would have been better if it wasn’t SO one sided. Also, they were trying way too hard to be funny.
August 6, 2024
This was a really short and easy read, I just started it a while back and then paused to finish up some other books and came back to this.
Overall, an informative and quick read that does a good job of covering the basics and inspires people to get more involved in politics. I think this is a great resource to hand to someone and in an afternoon they can walk away being more informed and more likely to get involved in saving our democracy, something I'm really passionate about. I don't know of another book like this, written for 2024, that is as useful and succinct. That being said, it doesn't go much deeper than the basic level, which is fine, but just don't expect much more than introductory content. Dan Pfeiffer's books would be a good place to go for additional substance after reading this, although those more describe the political systems, rather than individual action items. I think sometimes, it veered slightly too silly for me, where jokes maybe came at the expense of providing more substance that would be important. However, I know that i'm a little more in the weeds than most and they had to keep this light and fun for a more general audience. Solid overall!
Overall, an informative and quick read that does a good job of covering the basics and inspires people to get more involved in politics. I think this is a great resource to hand to someone and in an afternoon they can walk away being more informed and more likely to get involved in saving our democracy, something I'm really passionate about. I don't know of another book like this, written for 2024, that is as useful and succinct. That being said, it doesn't go much deeper than the basic level, which is fine, but just don't expect much more than introductory content. Dan Pfeiffer's books would be a good place to go for additional substance after reading this, although those more describe the political systems, rather than individual action items. I think sometimes, it veered slightly too silly for me, where jokes maybe came at the expense of providing more substance that would be important. However, I know that i'm a little more in the weeds than most and they had to keep this light and fun for a more general audience. Solid overall!
July 8, 2024
is that hope i feel.jpg
July 16, 2024
Pretty funny in a raunchy way. It does have some good information and advice on how to get involved, particularly for younger people who might not have ever volunteered for a political campaign.
July 22, 2024
fun and cute!! made me giggle. high points are def the personal stories from the authors and the quotes from stakeholders. def a good read for ppl looking to get involved!!
November 1, 2024
This book has the wit and irreverence you'd expect from the Pod Save America guys. It's a fun, quick read with a lot of serious information under the funny.
August 10, 2024
Only you can prevent Reichstag fires.
November 13, 2024
Under the guise of all the snark and sarcasm and deep cut jokes is a detailed guide for how to be an active participant in democracy. In the midst of all the election darkness, this gave me a bit of hope as only Lovett, Favreau, and Vietor can.
September 12, 2024
Very, very funny! Good supplemental material in addition to listening to Pod Save America.
October 19, 2024
Political action and humor! I love the Pod Save America bros.
“As hockey great Wayne Gretzky famously said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Well elections are a lot like hockey - constant fighting, the Canadians are better at it than us, and there are a surprising number of Russians involved.”
“We often focus a lot on how polarized we are (because we are), but for all our many differences of opinion, a majority of Americans actually agree on a lot.
• According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 71 percent of Americans think same-sex marriage should be legal.
In 1996, that number was only 27 percent.
• 59 percent of Americans opposed the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and according to a 2023 USA Today poll, 80 percent of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban.
• A poll in 2023 found at least 80 percent of registered voters favor mandating criminal background checks and mental health checks for gun buyers, enforcing current gun laws more effectively, making 21 the minimum age to purchase a gun, and letting police temporarily take guns away from people who may be dangerous. And that's a poll from Fox News!
• According to a 2023 CNN Poll, 73 percent of American adults say the US government should
‘develop its climate policies with the goal of cutting the country's planet-warming pollution in half by the end of the decade.’”
“At best, democracy is messy, contentious, and infuriating. Change will be slow because convincing a big group of people to do anything is slow. Have you ever watched a table for 12 try to order at a restaurant? It's a nightmare.
But here's the amazing part. Democracy isn't just how we organize our government. It's a way to see ourselves. In deciding that we are in charge - that we have agency - we are also deciding that each of us matters and deserves a voice, that all of us are worthy of dignity and respect. In empowering us, democracy changes us.
And the reason we're all still here, grinding and vibing, is because of all the people who kept this democracy safe and made it stronger. They expanded it to include voices that were purposefully excluded. They defended it from every kind of mob and would-be tyrant. And none of those defenders were inherently better than you. They didn't even have computers…
The truth is, democracy is a race with no finish line…”
“As hockey great Wayne Gretzky famously said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Well elections are a lot like hockey - constant fighting, the Canadians are better at it than us, and there are a surprising number of Russians involved.”
“We often focus a lot on how polarized we are (because we are), but for all our many differences of opinion, a majority of Americans actually agree on a lot.
• According to a 2023 Gallup poll, 71 percent of Americans think same-sex marriage should be legal.
In 1996, that number was only 27 percent.
• 59 percent of Americans opposed the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and according to a 2023 USA Today poll, 80 percent of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban.
• A poll in 2023 found at least 80 percent of registered voters favor mandating criminal background checks and mental health checks for gun buyers, enforcing current gun laws more effectively, making 21 the minimum age to purchase a gun, and letting police temporarily take guns away from people who may be dangerous. And that's a poll from Fox News!
• According to a 2023 CNN Poll, 73 percent of American adults say the US government should
‘develop its climate policies with the goal of cutting the country's planet-warming pollution in half by the end of the decade.’”
“At best, democracy is messy, contentious, and infuriating. Change will be slow because convincing a big group of people to do anything is slow. Have you ever watched a table for 12 try to order at a restaurant? It's a nightmare.
But here's the amazing part. Democracy isn't just how we organize our government. It's a way to see ourselves. In deciding that we are in charge - that we have agency - we are also deciding that each of us matters and deserves a voice, that all of us are worthy of dignity and respect. In empowering us, democracy changes us.
And the reason we're all still here, grinding and vibing, is because of all the people who kept this democracy safe and made it stronger. They expanded it to include voices that were purposefully excluded. They defended it from every kind of mob and would-be tyrant. And none of those defenders were inherently better than you. They didn't even have computers…
The truth is, democracy is a race with no finish line…”
Displaying 1 - 30 of 498 reviews