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Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy
Listening Length: 6 hours
The first book from Joyce White equal parts civics class, history lesson, and call to save the Republic, Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a political manifesto for our present moment.
“We’re in this together.”
For the past two years, Joyce Vance has signed off posts on her chart-topping Substack, Civil Discourse, with these four words. In that time, she’s guided readers through a continued erosion of democratic norms, the unprecedented felony conviction of an ex-president, and the approaching specter of a second Trump administration. Now that it’s upon us, Vance helps us understand how to avoid burnout and despair and exercise the democratic muscles we need to save the Republic.
Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action—putting our current crisis in historical context and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance’s message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context, the political history, and the practical reasons that the rule of law still matters, while also empowering you to do something—from the small (that conversation you’ve been meaning to have with your uncle or volunteering for your favorite political cause) to the big (starting a grassroots movement or running for political office).
Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to counter the second Trump administration and save American democracy.
The first book from Joyce White equal parts civics class, history lesson, and call to save the Republic, Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a political manifesto for our present moment.
“We’re in this together.”
For the past two years, Joyce Vance has signed off posts on her chart-topping Substack, Civil Discourse, with these four words. In that time, she’s guided readers through a continued erosion of democratic norms, the unprecedented felony conviction of an ex-president, and the approaching specter of a second Trump administration. Now that it’s upon us, Vance helps us understand how to avoid burnout and despair and exercise the democratic muscles we need to save the Republic.
Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action—putting our current crisis in historical context and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance’s message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context, the political history, and the practical reasons that the rule of law still matters, while also empowering you to do something—from the small (that conversation you’ve been meaning to have with your uncle or volunteering for your favorite political cause) to the big (starting a grassroots movement or running for political office).
Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to counter the second Trump administration and save American democracy.
6 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 21, 2025
384 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
November 2, 2025
Introduction
I love that Joyce Vance engaged me from the get-go. I was startled to read “That vision of an inclusive America is threatening to some people. They are afraid of us.” That really made me think. How sad to be afraid of inclusion, which is so much better for everyone than the alternative, fascism which is what we are facing right now and must take up the challenge to resist.
“It’s an educated public capable of informed civil discourse that sustains effective, fair government. Accountability happens when citizens demand it.” And we must demand it.
Chapter 1 Don’t Be the Frog – outlines the parameters of our present constitutional crisis
Vance uses the analogy of the frog in hot water – the water is heating slowly, and the frog doesn’t realize that it’s being cooked until it is too late. In business or government, “The warning signs develop so gradually that leadership doesn’t shift course until it’s too late.”
“Despite the clear evidence, many people refused to believe the water would really some to a boil if [Trump] was reelected. They’d forgotten what they’d lived through during his first term in office.”
This train of thought resonated with me, as I think the pandemic either literally caused us to struggle with short-term memory due to having had Covid or it was such a terrible time we psychologically blocked out the memory of those years, as we didn’t want to remember.
During Trump’s presidential campaign “Project 2025 became so unpopular when it was aired in public that Trump took pains to distance himself from it.” People believed him when he said that he had no idea what it was. However, once inaugurated, his administration proceeded in earnest to put Project 2025 in action and people were surprised and dismayed.
I like the analogy of the three branches of government being like a three-legged stool where you need all three legs for the stool to balance and remain upright.
“If there is a magic bullet for preserving democracy, it is this: prevent any one branch of government from holding too much power, especially power that the Constitution specifically gives to another branch of government.”
The Trump Administration used “mob boss-level intimidation, including canceling lawyers’ security clearances, denying firm employees access to federal property, terminating existing government contracts the firms had" to make large law firms tow the line and work for him rather than against him. “The executive orders were harsh enough that some of the [law] firms were concerned about going out of business.” Trump wielded the justice system as “tools for revenge.”
“The power to create laws, the Court reiterated belongs to Congress, and to Congress exclusively.”
“Indeed, judicial review is one of our most essential aids in challenging times, so long as judges live up to the role assigned to them.”
“It was clear that the new president was trying to aggregate the power of the three branches of government in his own hands.”
“The time-honored tradition of Americans is to stand together.” We must “jump out of the pot before it comes to a boil, and bring the other frogs with [us] as well.”
Chapter 2 The Myth of Broken Institutions - is about institutions: How they were designed to work and how we can strengthen them.
“They [institutions] evolve; they have reach. These institutions are populated by individuals with a deep commitment to democracy, the career civil service.” It is vital to democracy to have “a civil service loyal to the Constitution and its mission, not to any one president.”
“When the public perpetuates narratives that the institutions are broken and talks about walking away from them, it plays into his hands and makes his ascension to power that much easier.” We must stand up for our institutions.
“The Founding Fathers did believe in a powerful executive. But they emphasized, at the same time, that a president must be accountable.”
“In order to keep the presidency from becoming too powerful, Congress and the courts hold some share of power for their own and have the ability to check the executive branch. Other institutions, like the press, the unofficial forth branch of government, hold a president accountable by educating the electorate. Our military is civilian led, a deliberate choice made to lessen the risk of a military coup.”
“Much has been written about the public’s loss of confidence in the courts – or to be more precise, the Supreme Court.” However, “it is not the structural institution itself that is lacking; it is the people who populate it and their personal failures. Our job as citizens is not to abandon the courts but rather to demand better from them.”
“The Supreme Court is not the entirety of the court system. Indeed, some district judges and court of appeals judges seem to have grasped the credibility issue more readily than the Supreme Court has.”
“Collectively, as voters, as citizens, as concerned Americans, we have power […] We direct the priorities our elected officials must focus on if they want to remain in office.”
“As Americans, we should treat democracy the same way: the practice of democracy, something we do together as Americans. When we make mistakes, even big ones, we can learn from them. We dig deeper so we can fix them. We get back to work. But what we cannot do is give up.”
Chapter 3 How Democracy Works for Us - answers “The question that is at the very core of this book: Why is democracy, despite its imperfections, worth having?”
“If we acknowledge that American democracy was marred by its flaws at birth – slavery, misogyny, and classism among them – we must also acknowledge that it is capable of advancing beyond them and continuously expanding the groups of people and individuals to whom it extends its promise.”
“Despite its inherent imperfections, our democracy has advanced equity, freedom, and justice.” Democracy belongs to the American people. “Democracy forces leaders to consider citizens’ views.”
“People who live under monarchies or dictatorships desperately long for what we have been, even if it’s imperfect. They’d prefer to determine the course of their own lives rather than let a leader who took power do it for them.”
Chapter 4 A New Lost Cause - draws out the lessons we can learn from the Founding Fathers, literature, and American History (especially the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement) as we confront the current menace.
On January 6, 2021, “As we watched and listened, we realized that we were in the middle of an attempted coup, intended to interfere with the transfer of power from one duly elected president to another, for the first time in our nation’s history.”
“Following January 6, emotions ran high but there was no moment when Donald Trump faced the truth about what he had done to the country. He has never publicly apologized or even acknowledged he was wrong.”
“When Trump left the White House, the culture he created didn’t go away. With no closure and in the absence of accountability for January 6, Trump was free to rewrite the story into a Lost Cause mythology of his own, complete with true patriots – the guys in masks who attacked police officers, defecated in the Capitol, and threatened to hang Vice President Mike Pence. Senate Republicans failed to hold Trump accountable.”
“The rule of law is one of the reasons that people from other countries have felt comfortable making investments in the United States in past decades: A stable rule of law society protects even foreign investors’ interests.”
“Donald Trump, from the start of his first term in office, acted as though the rule of law didn’t apply to him.”
Founding Father Thomas Paine “published Common Sense on January 10, 1776, he helped America understand what was possible if they took responsibility for their own fate.”
“In Common Sense, Paine explained the weaknesses of kings like this: Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interests, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions.”
Chapter 5 RBG’s Umbrella - goes deep on the act that is the foundation of our democracy: Voting
“The next election is always the most important one of our lives.”
“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it. – John Lewis.”
“If you want to save democracy, persuade potential voters who don’t vote, or don’t vote regularly, that their participation is essential.”
“In Shelby County v. Holder, Justice Ginsburg took the majority to task for failing to honor the long-standing tradition of protecting the right to vote. In her dissenting opinion, she quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and when she read her dissent from the bench that day in 2013, she added a crucial point of emphasis: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion.”
Additionally, “She wrote, with prescient clarity, that ending preclearance
was “like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.””
Chapter 6 We Are the Cavalry - the most important chapter of the book, spells out what you can do, and what we can achieve together.
“We have one another, a community of like-minded people across the country who care about democracy.”
“The most important piece of knowledge to carry with you is that you are not powerless.”
“Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who fought back against Soviet oppression by exposing it, wrote, “The simple step of a courageous man is not to take part in the lie.””
“We can check a runaway president with our protests and with our votes.”
Rules for the cavalry
1. Be Smart
2. Be in Community
3. Never Bet against America. Believe that government works.
4. Understand That Protecting Democracy Comes in a Lot of Flavors.
5. Decide Who You Are and Stick to It.
6. Be the Hope
7. Take Baby Steps
8. Exercise Your Rights
To quote President Biden- “Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it.”
“Younger generations believe democracy has failed them, and they don’t believe it can be fixed because they’ve never seen it happen.” Another statement that surprised me and made me think.
“Ultimately, the only way a dictator can hold power is by controlling the flow of information and resorting to the spread of disinformation that serves his purposes and permits him to retain authority.”
“Executive orders can impact the executive branch of government, but they can’t tell citizens what to think or feel or how to behave. They have no force over us.”
Trump canceled celebrations such as Black History month by executive order. However, we have the right “to celebrate our fellow citizens’ contributions to our country. As Americans, we have that right and we should exercise it, joyfully and together.”
“Don’t give up hope. Pick one small thing you can do this week and get started. And then keep going.” “We keep the Republic by being stubborn and steadfast.”
Conclusion
“Stay informed, stay engaged, and bring others along with us. We need to be fearless about talking with people around us and explaining why democracy matters, the damage that is being done to it, and what we can do to protect it.”
“We keep the Republic by being stubborn and steadfast.”
“Never give up on talking with the people around you, the ones who have decided to look away and tolerate what’s happening.”
“We must persist until we succeed. Make your love of this country, despite her imperfections, relentless and refuse to give up. American citizenship confers a great responsibility. We must do our best, together, to live up to it.”
I follow Joyce Vance's Substack “Civil Discourse” and every night she signs off with “We’re in this together” and I truly find it comforting and inspiring. She is one of my trusted sources for information.
I love that Joyce Vance engaged me from the get-go. I was startled to read “That vision of an inclusive America is threatening to some people. They are afraid of us.” That really made me think. How sad to be afraid of inclusion, which is so much better for everyone than the alternative, fascism which is what we are facing right now and must take up the challenge to resist.
“It’s an educated public capable of informed civil discourse that sustains effective, fair government. Accountability happens when citizens demand it.” And we must demand it.
Chapter 1 Don’t Be the Frog – outlines the parameters of our present constitutional crisis
Vance uses the analogy of the frog in hot water – the water is heating slowly, and the frog doesn’t realize that it’s being cooked until it is too late. In business or government, “The warning signs develop so gradually that leadership doesn’t shift course until it’s too late.”
“Despite the clear evidence, many people refused to believe the water would really some to a boil if [Trump] was reelected. They’d forgotten what they’d lived through during his first term in office.”
This train of thought resonated with me, as I think the pandemic either literally caused us to struggle with short-term memory due to having had Covid or it was such a terrible time we psychologically blocked out the memory of those years, as we didn’t want to remember.
During Trump’s presidential campaign “Project 2025 became so unpopular when it was aired in public that Trump took pains to distance himself from it.” People believed him when he said that he had no idea what it was. However, once inaugurated, his administration proceeded in earnest to put Project 2025 in action and people were surprised and dismayed.
I like the analogy of the three branches of government being like a three-legged stool where you need all three legs for the stool to balance and remain upright.
“If there is a magic bullet for preserving democracy, it is this: prevent any one branch of government from holding too much power, especially power that the Constitution specifically gives to another branch of government.”
The Trump Administration used “mob boss-level intimidation, including canceling lawyers’ security clearances, denying firm employees access to federal property, terminating existing government contracts the firms had" to make large law firms tow the line and work for him rather than against him. “The executive orders were harsh enough that some of the [law] firms were concerned about going out of business.” Trump wielded the justice system as “tools for revenge.”
“The power to create laws, the Court reiterated belongs to Congress, and to Congress exclusively.”
“Indeed, judicial review is one of our most essential aids in challenging times, so long as judges live up to the role assigned to them.”
“It was clear that the new president was trying to aggregate the power of the three branches of government in his own hands.”
“The time-honored tradition of Americans is to stand together.” We must “jump out of the pot before it comes to a boil, and bring the other frogs with [us] as well.”
Chapter 2 The Myth of Broken Institutions - is about institutions: How they were designed to work and how we can strengthen them.
“They [institutions] evolve; they have reach. These institutions are populated by individuals with a deep commitment to democracy, the career civil service.” It is vital to democracy to have “a civil service loyal to the Constitution and its mission, not to any one president.”
“When the public perpetuates narratives that the institutions are broken and talks about walking away from them, it plays into his hands and makes his ascension to power that much easier.” We must stand up for our institutions.
“The Founding Fathers did believe in a powerful executive. But they emphasized, at the same time, that a president must be accountable.”
“In order to keep the presidency from becoming too powerful, Congress and the courts hold some share of power for their own and have the ability to check the executive branch. Other institutions, like the press, the unofficial forth branch of government, hold a president accountable by educating the electorate. Our military is civilian led, a deliberate choice made to lessen the risk of a military coup.”
“Much has been written about the public’s loss of confidence in the courts – or to be more precise, the Supreme Court.” However, “it is not the structural institution itself that is lacking; it is the people who populate it and their personal failures. Our job as citizens is not to abandon the courts but rather to demand better from them.”
“The Supreme Court is not the entirety of the court system. Indeed, some district judges and court of appeals judges seem to have grasped the credibility issue more readily than the Supreme Court has.”
“Collectively, as voters, as citizens, as concerned Americans, we have power […] We direct the priorities our elected officials must focus on if they want to remain in office.”
“As Americans, we should treat democracy the same way: the practice of democracy, something we do together as Americans. When we make mistakes, even big ones, we can learn from them. We dig deeper so we can fix them. We get back to work. But what we cannot do is give up.”
Chapter 3 How Democracy Works for Us - answers “The question that is at the very core of this book: Why is democracy, despite its imperfections, worth having?”
“If we acknowledge that American democracy was marred by its flaws at birth – slavery, misogyny, and classism among them – we must also acknowledge that it is capable of advancing beyond them and continuously expanding the groups of people and individuals to whom it extends its promise.”
“Despite its inherent imperfections, our democracy has advanced equity, freedom, and justice.” Democracy belongs to the American people. “Democracy forces leaders to consider citizens’ views.”
“People who live under monarchies or dictatorships desperately long for what we have been, even if it’s imperfect. They’d prefer to determine the course of their own lives rather than let a leader who took power do it for them.”
Chapter 4 A New Lost Cause - draws out the lessons we can learn from the Founding Fathers, literature, and American History (especially the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement) as we confront the current menace.
On January 6, 2021, “As we watched and listened, we realized that we were in the middle of an attempted coup, intended to interfere with the transfer of power from one duly elected president to another, for the first time in our nation’s history.”
“Following January 6, emotions ran high but there was no moment when Donald Trump faced the truth about what he had done to the country. He has never publicly apologized or even acknowledged he was wrong.”
“When Trump left the White House, the culture he created didn’t go away. With no closure and in the absence of accountability for January 6, Trump was free to rewrite the story into a Lost Cause mythology of his own, complete with true patriots – the guys in masks who attacked police officers, defecated in the Capitol, and threatened to hang Vice President Mike Pence. Senate Republicans failed to hold Trump accountable.”
“The rule of law is one of the reasons that people from other countries have felt comfortable making investments in the United States in past decades: A stable rule of law society protects even foreign investors’ interests.”
“Donald Trump, from the start of his first term in office, acted as though the rule of law didn’t apply to him.”
Founding Father Thomas Paine “published Common Sense on January 10, 1776, he helped America understand what was possible if they took responsibility for their own fate.”
“In Common Sense, Paine explained the weaknesses of kings like this: Men who look upon themselves born to reign, and others to obey, soon grow insolent; selected from the rest of mankind their minds are early poisoned by importance; and the world they act in differs so materially from the world at large, that they have but little opportunity of knowing its true interests, and when they succeed to the government are frequently the most ignorant and unfit of any throughout the dominions.”
Chapter 5 RBG’s Umbrella - goes deep on the act that is the foundation of our democracy: Voting
“The next election is always the most important one of our lives.”
“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it. – John Lewis.”
“If you want to save democracy, persuade potential voters who don’t vote, or don’t vote regularly, that their participation is essential.”
“In Shelby County v. Holder, Justice Ginsburg took the majority to task for failing to honor the long-standing tradition of protecting the right to vote. In her dissenting opinion, she quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and when she read her dissent from the bench that day in 2013, she added a crucial point of emphasis: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion.”
Additionally, “She wrote, with prescient clarity, that ending preclearance
was “like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.””
Chapter 6 We Are the Cavalry - the most important chapter of the book, spells out what you can do, and what we can achieve together.
“We have one another, a community of like-minded people across the country who care about democracy.”
“The most important piece of knowledge to carry with you is that you are not powerless.”
“Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, who fought back against Soviet oppression by exposing it, wrote, “The simple step of a courageous man is not to take part in the lie.””
“We can check a runaway president with our protests and with our votes.”
Rules for the cavalry
1. Be Smart
2. Be in Community
3. Never Bet against America. Believe that government works.
4. Understand That Protecting Democracy Comes in a Lot of Flavors.
5. Decide Who You Are and Stick to It.
6. Be the Hope
7. Take Baby Steps
8. Exercise Your Rights
To quote President Biden- “Democracy is never guaranteed. Every generation must preserve it, defend it, and fight for it.”
“Younger generations believe democracy has failed them, and they don’t believe it can be fixed because they’ve never seen it happen.” Another statement that surprised me and made me think.
“Ultimately, the only way a dictator can hold power is by controlling the flow of information and resorting to the spread of disinformation that serves his purposes and permits him to retain authority.”
“Executive orders can impact the executive branch of government, but they can’t tell citizens what to think or feel or how to behave. They have no force over us.”
Trump canceled celebrations such as Black History month by executive order. However, we have the right “to celebrate our fellow citizens’ contributions to our country. As Americans, we have that right and we should exercise it, joyfully and together.”
“Don’t give up hope. Pick one small thing you can do this week and get started. And then keep going.” “We keep the Republic by being stubborn and steadfast.”
Conclusion
“Stay informed, stay engaged, and bring others along with us. We need to be fearless about talking with people around us and explaining why democracy matters, the damage that is being done to it, and what we can do to protect it.”
“We keep the Republic by being stubborn and steadfast.”
“Never give up on talking with the people around you, the ones who have decided to look away and tolerate what’s happening.”
“We must persist until we succeed. Make your love of this country, despite her imperfections, relentless and refuse to give up. American citizenship confers a great responsibility. We must do our best, together, to live up to it.”
I follow Joyce Vance's Substack “Civil Discourse” and every night she signs off with “We’re in this together” and I truly find it comforting and inspiring. She is one of my trusted sources for information.
October 24, 2025
Understanding where we are and where we need to go. Next up, read the Federalist papers.
Read
October 29, 2025Well, only one of the chapters is a manual for how to take action. The overwhelming majority of the text recaps recent events and other history. A more apt title might have been, "This Sure Has Been a Lot, Hasn't It?"
November 19, 2025
I’m torn. On the one hand, Vance makes a compelling argument that democracy and rule of law are worth fighting for and that voting and encouraging voting are our most basic duties as citizens. On the other, a lot of the book feels rooted in Obama-era liberalism that hasn’t met the current moment. Vance never adequately addresses a hard question that comes up over and over again even in this book: how can we both defend institutions and take action when they’ve been compromised, like the current Supreme Court?
Vance also tends to conflate democracy and rule of law with the American system wholesale, arguing that we must defend and improve existing institutions. I would have liked to see her wrangle more with whether the institutions we have are actually the best ones to meet the moment and defend and promote democracy and rule of law. Ultimately, I find myself identifying most with her son, who she quotes as having lost faith in the institutions we have today but being hopeful that people are activating for change.
Ultimately, I think On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is probably a shorter, more actionable manual for saving democracy. With Giving Up is Unforgivable, expect more of an argument that democracy and rule of law are worth participating in and saving in the first place. It’s hard to argue with that.
Vance also tends to conflate democracy and rule of law with the American system wholesale, arguing that we must defend and improve existing institutions. I would have liked to see her wrangle more with whether the institutions we have are actually the best ones to meet the moment and defend and promote democracy and rule of law. Ultimately, I find myself identifying most with her son, who she quotes as having lost faith in the institutions we have today but being hopeful that people are activating for change.
Ultimately, I think On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder is probably a shorter, more actionable manual for saving democracy. With Giving Up is Unforgivable, expect more of an argument that democracy and rule of law are worth participating in and saving in the first place. It’s hard to argue with that.
November 16, 2025
Good but not great. I guess I had very high hopes, but for me, it mostly rehashed things I already knew or had already heard. That said, it provides excellent reminders of important concepts, and I’m glad I read it for that reason alone. Nice audio narration by the author.
October 26, 2025
This is an uplifting look at where we are in the rapidly evolving political landscape that includes words of wisdom, hope, and a call to action.
November 17, 2025
I do worry what kids growing up now are going to think about our country and it’s democracy. Are they even going to think about it at all? So much of our media and education (it seems) is built on distracting us. And even if you overcome that distraction, there are so many parts that seem hopeless and disheartening.
It is our civic responsibility as citizens !! who pay taxes !! to be properly educated and vote !! All of us live in symbiosis with one another; it blows my minnddd how much our society wants to separate us. We should all be working together to create a common good.
If you educate yourself and participate, I think hope can find you again. Because there is hope!! Thankfully America is still a democracy—and what a beautiful thing that is, but democracy only works if the people are educated and vote. We can’t hold the people in power accountable if we take no steps to do so !!
I am trying everyday to be more educated in my values, understanding our world and its history. Where the problems lie and how to fix them. It’s funny that our founding fathers wrote specifically to prevent this kind of thing.. but it gets forgotten. Taken for granted! It definitely takes a lot of mental work and energy, but I’m committed to being better!! I think, I hope 😭💔 this book definitely gave me a new direction to go in. I love when books reference older books and get you excited to read them!! To expand your knowledge 🥰
It is our civic responsibility as citizens !! who pay taxes !! to be properly educated and vote !! All of us live in symbiosis with one another; it blows my minnddd how much our society wants to separate us. We should all be working together to create a common good.
If you educate yourself and participate, I think hope can find you again. Because there is hope!! Thankfully America is still a democracy—and what a beautiful thing that is, but democracy only works if the people are educated and vote. We can’t hold the people in power accountable if we take no steps to do so !!
I am trying everyday to be more educated in my values, understanding our world and its history. Where the problems lie and how to fix them. It’s funny that our founding fathers wrote specifically to prevent this kind of thing.. but it gets forgotten. Taken for granted! It definitely takes a lot of mental work and energy, but I’m committed to being better!! I think, I hope 😭💔 this book definitely gave me a new direction to go in. I love when books reference older books and get you excited to read them!! To expand your knowledge 🥰
November 11, 2025
Fifty stars for Joyce Vance and her book “Giving Up Is Unforgivable—A Manual for Democracy.” She states throughout the book that the people hold the power and we must work to ensure that our power isn’t lost. A former federal prosecutor, Vance stresses the need for Civics education, so that the citizenry is fully aware of our rights and responsibilities. Chief among them is the responsibility to vote and protect the rights of all qualified people to vote. She urges everyone to participate in whatever way is good for them, and she gives examples of what those actions might be.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of 1776, I strongly recommend everyone read this book and take part in strengthening our democracy.
As we approach the 250th anniversary of 1776, I strongly recommend everyone read this book and take part in strengthening our democracy.
November 6, 2025
Encouraging book tracing how we came to our current political situation and what might bring us out. The writing, with postscript, ends in June 2025 as events have continued to roll with crazy speed to more outrageous plots. It was well written and informative, but can't encompass the rapidly evolving situation in this country. I adore and support the Substack writing.
November 16, 2025
This was definitely a love letter to the American people. I learned a lot and I truly appreciate this novel. After reading it I am filled with hope and a feeling I haven't felt in a while....pride in my country. Our Democracy is important and it is worth keeping and fighting for. I will never take it for granted again.
November 23, 2025
This was a quick listen and good company on a drive at 2x speed.
However, if you’re left leaning and have been paying attention to the news, it felt like nothing new. The author is kind of preaching at the choir and there’s nothing very actionable.
However, if you’re left leaning and have been paying attention to the news, it felt like nothing new. The author is kind of preaching at the choir and there’s nothing very actionable.
October 31, 2025
With the constant, daily assaults on our democracy here in the U.S., I didn't think I was in the mood for this book, despite loving Joyce Vance's daily newsletter and analysis. However, I absolutely inhaled this book on audio, finishing it in one day, and I plan to listen to it again this weekend with my husband. It turns out that this book was exactly what I needed to feel inspired, hopeful, and eager to fight for a better country and a better world.
November 19, 2025
On one hand this is a very timing and profoundly important book. Saying every American should read this is a given. Everyone should read this book because it’s neither republican or democrat…it’s American and more importantly what America is supposed to be about and stand for. The threat to precisely just that is unfortunately our current president and his administration. What he’s doing to the constitution and rule of law should disgust everyone but I digress. Now, on the other hand I sadly found myself agreeing more with of all people the author’s youngest child(22 years old) on our current state of affairs and how to possibly fix them. Basically he mentions that for as long as he’s been alive, there hasn’t been a real democracy. That people with power, money, and influence control everything. That it’s an insult to try and demand change from the powers at be who are millionaires and billionaires with connections everywhere. That protests simply don’t do shit to change anything. For instance the “Occupy Wall Street” protest and how that changed absolutely nothing. Wall Street is as corrupt and evil as ever. And the latest “No Kings Rally” literally only got the president to post a cartoon of himself defecating on the protestors. Oh and while he still dines and travels and lives and behaves like a fucking King. I want to believe that the better angels of our society in positions of power will ultimately make the right decisions when the timing comes but I sadly have major doubts. Color me a cynic or pessimist or whatever the hell you want but my stance won’t change. I’ve been around the block many times and have read a ton of history to know that my doubts are well founded. I just hope I’m proven deadass wrong. This book gets a strong recommendation from me. Happy reading!
November 22, 2025
Key Take Aways:
* We mustn’t doze off
* Understanding government and how it works is now essential
* The practice of democracy makes it a verb
* Progress doesn’t always stick - look at the long arc of history
* Help other people as their rights matter as much as your own.
This new book by Joyce Vance’s is essential reading because it combines her expertise as a former U.S. Attorney with a deeply human, accessible voice that makes the topic at hand relatable and she conveys the message of the moment well: democratic institutions feel fragile and are under attack. Vance doesn’t just describe the legal system, she explains how it works, why it matters, and what happens when the public becomes disengaged. She draws on real cases, personal reflections, and decades of experience to show that participation, vigilance, and accountability are not abstract ideals but practical responsibilities. The book reminds readers that democracy is not self-sustaining; it lives or dies based on whether everyday people remain informed and committed.
The book is also a call to civic empowerment rather than despair. Vance writes with urgency, but never gives in to doom and gloom messaging. She argues that “giving up” is exactly what allows corruption, extremism, and erosion of norms to take holds:. Throughout the book, she states that ordinary citizens have far more power than they realize: we are each essential players in a functioning democracy.
Her message is clear: understanding the law strengthens your voice and protecting our democratic systems requires all of us. It’s both a warning and a blueprint for hopeful, engaged citizenship.
* We mustn’t doze off
* Understanding government and how it works is now essential
* The practice of democracy makes it a verb
* Progress doesn’t always stick - look at the long arc of history
* Help other people as their rights matter as much as your own.
This new book by Joyce Vance’s is essential reading because it combines her expertise as a former U.S. Attorney with a deeply human, accessible voice that makes the topic at hand relatable and she conveys the message of the moment well: democratic institutions feel fragile and are under attack. Vance doesn’t just describe the legal system, she explains how it works, why it matters, and what happens when the public becomes disengaged. She draws on real cases, personal reflections, and decades of experience to show that participation, vigilance, and accountability are not abstract ideals but practical responsibilities. The book reminds readers that democracy is not self-sustaining; it lives or dies based on whether everyday people remain informed and committed.
The book is also a call to civic empowerment rather than despair. Vance writes with urgency, but never gives in to doom and gloom messaging. She argues that “giving up” is exactly what allows corruption, extremism, and erosion of norms to take holds:. Throughout the book, she states that ordinary citizens have far more power than they realize: we are each essential players in a functioning democracy.
Her message is clear: understanding the law strengthens your voice and protecting our democratic systems requires all of us. It’s both a warning and a blueprint for hopeful, engaged citizenship.
November 17, 2025
Joyce Vance is a law professor who also worked for the Department of Justice.
I’ve seen her several times on MSNBC (now MS NOW) and when I saw that she’d written a book, I had to read it!
If you’re progressive in thinking, then you’ve had to notice that our country and government is fucked up.
What is going on right now, people being taken off of streets is so wrong.
For Trump to attempt to have a late night talk show host fired for simply calling out his unlawful actions is without a doubt fucked up in every level of the law.
Just Google the First Amendment.
I didn’t go to law school, but I have with a very close friend who did and he educates me on a lot of things related to the rule of law.
This book starts out as a history lesson, and then offers tips on what we can do to maintain a democracy, which we have a right to do.
If you’re bothered by people being arrested in a Gestspo like manor (simply because of their skin color and never given due process), this is the book for you.
If you’re aggravated by the increased cost of groceries, this is for you.
The main thing in this book is that despite what he thinks, Donald Trump is not above the rule of law.
Democracy is a very real thing and right now we need to be fighting for it.
I attended both No Kings Protests in Atlanta and it was an amazing experience.
Just seeing so many people show up and say “this if effed up and I’m not okay with it”.
If you want progress, this is worth reading.
I’ve seen her several times on MSNBC (now MS NOW) and when I saw that she’d written a book, I had to read it!
If you’re progressive in thinking, then you’ve had to notice that our country and government is fucked up.
What is going on right now, people being taken off of streets is so wrong.
For Trump to attempt to have a late night talk show host fired for simply calling out his unlawful actions is without a doubt fucked up in every level of the law.
Just Google the First Amendment.
I didn’t go to law school, but I have with a very close friend who did and he educates me on a lot of things related to the rule of law.
This book starts out as a history lesson, and then offers tips on what we can do to maintain a democracy, which we have a right to do.
If you’re bothered by people being arrested in a Gestspo like manor (simply because of their skin color and never given due process), this is the book for you.
If you’re aggravated by the increased cost of groceries, this is for you.
The main thing in this book is that despite what he thinks, Donald Trump is not above the rule of law.
Democracy is a very real thing and right now we need to be fighting for it.
I attended both No Kings Protests in Atlanta and it was an amazing experience.
Just seeing so many people show up and say “this if effed up and I’m not okay with it”.
If you want progress, this is worth reading.
November 20, 2025
Enjoyable listen. Read by the author, former US Attorney, commentator on MSNBC/MS NOW, podcaster with other former US Attorneys I'm not sure of the name since I don't really know where you find podcasts.
One of the stresses is: whatever happened to civics in school? I recall taking a civics-type course in high school. It's where I learned about fallacies. So I did learn something.
Then as she's winding up she mentioned how some people get taken off the voting rolls. She was talking about a 90-year old who was taken off and wasn't sure he could get the necessary documents in time to casr a ballot. A local attorney friend was able to help him out- they took someone with him to the polls who could testify as to his identity. This reminded me of when I was taken off the voting rolls. I lived in a predominantly democratic area of Chicago and the Republican canvasser would come to verify that residents still had their same address would come during the workday when everyone would be at work. And that's where I was. Showed up at the polls and I wasn't listed. I was allowed a remedy - if I had the proper documents I could go to the library and see someone who was there (probably a notary). So I was eventually able to vote. But that's how easily it is done.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone here. There is important information on how we can survive our current situation.
One of the stresses is: whatever happened to civics in school? I recall taking a civics-type course in high school. It's where I learned about fallacies. So I did learn something.
Then as she's winding up she mentioned how some people get taken off the voting rolls. She was talking about a 90-year old who was taken off and wasn't sure he could get the necessary documents in time to casr a ballot. A local attorney friend was able to help him out- they took someone with him to the polls who could testify as to his identity. This reminded me of when I was taken off the voting rolls. I lived in a predominantly democratic area of Chicago and the Republican canvasser would come to verify that residents still had their same address would come during the workday when everyone would be at work. And that's where I was. Showed up at the polls and I wasn't listed. I was allowed a remedy - if I had the proper documents I could go to the library and see someone who was there (probably a notary). So I was eventually able to vote. But that's how easily it is done.
I would recommend this book to almost anyone here. There is important information on how we can survive our current situation.
November 24, 2025
The author is a former federal attorney from Alabama who became a frequent "talking head" on MSNBC during trump's first term. This book is the distillation of everything she's been talking about since then. It's pretty good, but is somewhat overwhelmed by her palpable hatred of trump, her devotion to her Country and love of Justice, and her enthusiasm for Law as the Force that binds it All together. As a result, it's not entirely clear who's her target audience. The book is too short to go into much detail, but simultaneously fixated on legal procedures and historical precedents that interest most people (or at least me) as much as reading about how the mean regression for actuarial tables are verified or the best rope to use when harnessing a horse for riding side-saddle with an English saddle. Great if that's your thing, excruciating for everyone else.
Audiobook: Vance narrates the book herself, and her intelligent educated Southern drawl reminds my NYC ears of Elizabeth Warren, who makes me think of the judge in My Cousin Vinnie. Especially when she talks about "kitchen table issues" as if everyone lives in a giant house with a wrap-around porch and has so much extra space in their kitchen that they can fit a table in it. And perhaps a horse or two in the stable out back…
October 29, 2025
More and more people are asking what they need to know and what they can do to help save democracy, civil rights, human rights right now.
I think this book is a good place to start.
The author calls it a “part call to arms, part How-To manual,” and after reading it myself, I agree.
It sifts through the noise of the news to focus on what we as Americans are supposed to have protected but are at risk of losing (or already lost), gives some historical and legal context in laymen’s terms, then tells us what we the regular folks can to do save those rights and protections.
I’ve read her newsletter Civil Discourse since it launched in 2022, finding it educational and instructional on not just the high profile court cases in the news, but how they affect / why they should be important to me as a regular citizen who values democracy and civil rights.
A theme that runs through the newsletter is also prominent in her book: we the people have a collective power, but to protect democracy and civil rights, “Americans must insist.”
This book gives us clarity, facts and tools to do so effectively. I definitely recommend reading/listening to it now.
I think this book is a good place to start.
The author calls it a “part call to arms, part How-To manual,” and after reading it myself, I agree.
It sifts through the noise of the news to focus on what we as Americans are supposed to have protected but are at risk of losing (or already lost), gives some historical and legal context in laymen’s terms, then tells us what we the regular folks can to do save those rights and protections.
I’ve read her newsletter Civil Discourse since it launched in 2022, finding it educational and instructional on not just the high profile court cases in the news, but how they affect / why they should be important to me as a regular citizen who values democracy and civil rights.
A theme that runs through the newsletter is also prominent in her book: we the people have a collective power, but to protect democracy and civil rights, “Americans must insist.”
This book gives us clarity, facts and tools to do so effectively. I definitely recommend reading/listening to it now.
November 4, 2025
The premise of this book is that the secret to stopping authoritarian rule lies in the stories surrounding the founding of the United States. The author makes this point many times from many different angles, covering approximately the first 3 months of the current Republican administration. Much of the work of this book is around the judicial system and the role of law in the US government. I appreciated the definition and description for "rule of law" in the context of government and civics, and while some of the historical anecdotes were familiar, most were new to me.
However, while there is much that is instructive and inspiring in this book, I think the author does not address one of the primary concerns that many Americans have until the very end. And when she finally does, her answer was much weaker than in other parts of the book, relying entirely on a single modern perspective rather than on either historical anecdotes or legal consensus.
I would say that if you live in the US, this is worth reading, but don't expect to find the promised manual within.
However, while there is much that is instructive and inspiring in this book, I think the author does not address one of the primary concerns that many Americans have until the very end. And when she finally does, her answer was much weaker than in other parts of the book, relying entirely on a single modern perspective rather than on either historical anecdotes or legal consensus.
I would say that if you live in the US, this is worth reading, but don't expect to find the promised manual within.
November 5, 2025
In the present fight to preserve our democracy, Joyce Vance calls us to action and shows us where to go next. This book is a rallying cry for all of us to participate to restore our democracy. She writes in a concise clear way that is easy to understand. She speaks about what it takes for a dictator to overwhelm a democracy, win election and appear legal. Misinformation is used alongside disinterest by the voters, lies and artificial promises. The author calls those of us who object "the calvary" and writes about how we are not powerless. We can study history and educate our children about our democracy. We can take younger children with us when we vote, take them to visit Washington, D.C. Vance encourages us to resist misinformation and manipulation. The citizens of this country are in the fight of and for their lives but this book presents ways to buck this takeover by a would-be authoritarian and others within our country. And always, first and foremost, never miss a chance to VOTE!
November 12, 2025
Book notes
- [ ] “What will you do to keep it?” Benjamin Franklin so famously said.
- [ ] In regards to stay a Republic
- [ ] Fight for the rule of law
- [ ] No one is above the law
- [ ] Barrier from a strong man
- [ ] Unitary executive power
- [ ] If we want democratic policies our representatives will adhere to those principles.
- [ ] Immigrants have fought for their rights in this country.
- [ ] A more diverse America.
- [ ] Entitled ti demand a good Gov. we can not give up.
- [ ] Nothing leaves us worse than abandoning democracy.
- [ ] Hood and malone jones were so courageous made democracy work for them.
- [ ] Educate ourselves
- [ ] We hace government by the majority who participate.
- [ ] Autocrats biggest vulnerability is a well informed citizenry.
- [ ] Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- [ ] A simple step of a courageous man is not to take part in the lie.
- [ ] Create culture of knowledge about our country is the norm
- [ ] Hands on civics learning
- [ ]
- [ ] “What will you do to keep it?” Benjamin Franklin so famously said.
- [ ] In regards to stay a Republic
- [ ] Fight for the rule of law
- [ ] No one is above the law
- [ ] Barrier from a strong man
- [ ] Unitary executive power
- [ ] If we want democratic policies our representatives will adhere to those principles.
- [ ] Immigrants have fought for their rights in this country.
- [ ] A more diverse America.
- [ ] Entitled ti demand a good Gov. we can not give up.
- [ ] Nothing leaves us worse than abandoning democracy.
- [ ] Hood and malone jones were so courageous made democracy work for them.
- [ ] Educate ourselves
- [ ] We hace government by the majority who participate.
- [ ] Autocrats biggest vulnerability is a well informed citizenry.
- [ ] Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
- [ ] A simple step of a courageous man is not to take part in the lie.
- [ ] Create culture of knowledge about our country is the norm
- [ ] Hands on civics learning
- [ ]
November 16, 2025
I like what Joyce Vance has to say, and I like her ideas for how to make Americans understand the importance of the democracy we are on the brink of losing. This book had some history, some political commentary, and some ideas for things to do to shore up our democracy. Nothing in this book was earthshaking or new, especially if you listen to any of Joyce Vance’s podcasts or read any of her blogs. A lot of the criticism of this book is from people looking for a simple playbook for how to save our democracy, as if it could be as easy as a recipe for baking cookies. There’s no easy answer, quick fix, or pill we can take to fix the mess we are in. For the pro-democracy movement, the answer is a series of lifestyle choices that start with difficult conversations, being active in our communities, reaching out to our families and friends, and doing things that will only make a difference over time. I gave this book four stars because it did encourage me to think of some new actions I can take in my sphere of influence that could be very powerful on a small scale.
November 18, 2025
This was a tough book to read. As much as I want to believe that protesters and voters can preserve democracy in the U.S., the outlaws in office don't just chip away at it, they are swinging a huge scythe. Joyce Vance is absolutely right in everything she says. Giving up is unforgivable and I have no intention of giving up. But I didn't have much hope, either. Then just a few days after finishing this book, the November 2025 elections raised my hopes. It wasn't just the big governorships that were taken from MAGA hands, but school boards, sheriffs, and many other local races that make all the difference in the world. When I read that a book-banning school board in Texas had flipped, I realized that it is way too soon to give up hope. I plan to keep turning out for marches even if I can't see immediate results.
November 17, 2025
This book should be required reading in high school and college government, civics and law classes. My only regret was that I didn’t buy my own copy (I borrowed from our public library) because I would have highlighted so many of her wise words! Next I’d like her to write a book on information literacy.
Especially significant to me was a quote she used from FDR: “We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests.”
Especially significant to me was a quote she used from FDR: “We must especially beware of that small group of selfish men who would clip the wings of the American eagle in order to feather their own nests.”
November 12, 2025
I wanted to read this book, for - shocking I know - just the reasons it seemed to be written, to get a reminder of how unusual this administration, and it's very obvious attempts to reinvent our political system, by getting rid of the democracy we currently have (had?) and giving power to a small group of very rich people. It supplies all that, and offers hope and good directions and hopes to continue to try to fight it off.
November 4, 2025
A must read for anyone concerned about the ongoing problems in our country. As in her newsletter, Ms. Vance explains our system of democracy, what the constitution stands for and the rule of law, in reasonable and understandable terms.
If civics lessons are ever returned to our schools, this should be a must read. Highly recommend.
If civics lessons are ever returned to our schools, this should be a must read. Highly recommend.
November 6, 2025
There are a number of political books out there, many not worth reading. This one however is critical reading for anyone who is concerned about protecting democracy. In addition to talking about the issues, Joyce identifies what we can do to protect it. Most importantly be aware of the issues and vote for those that will protect what we want and need.
November 9, 2025
Vance, a law professor and former U.S. Attorney, in clear, concise prose, delineates the concrete actions Americans can take to ensure we keep our democracy. This reminder of our Constitutional rights; the different powers of the three branches of our government; why democracy is important, couldn’t be timelier. Everyone should read this.
November 10, 2025
If you’re scared about the direction of the country lately and are having difficulty dealing with it— this book is for you. It’s a pep talk of a book, brace yourself and strap in. Why we can be Hopeful and what we must be vigilant about m. Sometimes you need someone who has worked for DOJ, under multiple presidents to maybe not talk you down but lift your thinking. Vance does this well.
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