Better Politics, Please: 35 Stories of Politicians Who Value Hope Over Hate

by Kevin D. Hendricks, Carolyn Swiszcz (Illustrator)

Too often, politics feels like a battleground where we lob accusations back and forth and the other side is evil. Politics have long been divisive and people will always disagree. But we can restore civility and even joy to the process. It starts by looking beyond partisan divisions and finding something to celebrate in other people, no matter their party. This project explores 35 public figures from across the political spectrum who seek common ground. Some you might love, and some you won’t. But that’s OK—common ground isn’t always comfortable. This is a small step toward better politics to inspire each of us to take action. If we want to make civic engagement civil, it starts with we the people. “We will never heal our democracy hiding behind a keyboard.” -Minnesota State Senator Matt Little “We need a revival of civic grace.” -U.S. Senator Cory Booker “We can disagree without being disagreeable.” -Erin Stewart, Mayor of New Britain, Conn.

197 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2020

About the author

Kevin D. Hendricks lives in St. Paul, Minn., with his wife, two kids and two dogs. He does freelance writing and editing through his company Monkey Outta Nowhere.

He's been blogging since 1998 and has published a number of books, including NaNoWriMo novels, personal and professional projects and a children's book with his daughter.

Reviews

[Kevin]

I'm a bit biased on this one, but I think it's pretty good.

[Shelley]

A refreshing look at a few politicians who want to decrease the political divide our country is in.