When I read the part about the women of Sudan rising up in 2019 against brutal dictatorship, I immediately thought of the title and cover of your new book, especially the graphic of the hand of Lady Liberty. Earlier in the day when you shared it on fb, it really struck me. Now I’m imagining women all over this country and across the globe taking up that torch!
When I read the part about the women of Sudan rising up in 2019 against brutal dictatorship, I immediately thought of the title and cover of your new book, especially the graphic of the hand of Lady Liberty. Earlier in the day when you shared it on fb, it really struck me. Now I’m imagining women all over this country and across the globe taking up that torch!
"This note is not part of the Letters from an American series. It is instead an announcement— which comes from a bit of a place of surprise, to be honest— and a thank you to everyone who reads here.
"The announcement is that it appears my new book is a real thing.
"It has a cover now (which is what has prompted this note) and will come out in mid-September. It is 30 short chapters in three sections for a total of 250 pages of text, and I think it is… not bad, which is about as far as any writer will— or should— go on a new book.
The book is called Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, and it tries to explain how we got to this political moment… and how we get out. There is a lot of material in it you all will recognize— on the Trump years, for example, and how we got to them and how we got through them— but there is a lot that is new, too, reflecting how the last several years have made me reconceive the way I think about the meaning of history. In the end, this book makes an argument for a new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life.
"Writing the book was a very odd experience. Because I was writing so much else, I could never focus on the book exclusively as I have for previous books. I would write in the mornings, but every afternoon I would have to pack up whatever was in front of me and start working on the nightly letter. When one chapter was done, I would throw it aside and ignore it while working on the next. It was almost as if I was seeing the project only in my peripheral vision while looking intently at what was in front of me.
"Then stuff happened (there was a wedding in there! 🙂 ) so I took a break from the manuscript before picking it up for the second draft.
"When I did turn back to it, I discovered something curious: it was almost as if the chapters had been chatting together while I ignored them, and they demanded an entire reworking. That reworking meant I rewrote close to 80% of the manuscript, and developed a much different thesis than I had set out to write two years ago. It was rather as if I had seen things more clearly out of the corner of my eye than if I had been looking directly at it.
"The manuscript turned into a voyage of discovery for me, and it ended up feeling very much like I didn’t have a lot of control over it: I was just bringing a definitive shape to the questions, comments, concerns, and hopes of so many people who have been part of the crazy journey of the past three and a half years.
"And that’s where the thank you comes in. This really is your book as much as it ever was mine.
"I hope you like it."
I look forward to reading "Democracy Awakening" soon!
"In the end, this book makes an argument for a new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life."
Thanks for posting. I don't have facebook.
Perhaps this book will help support Nicole Hannah Jones book "The 1619 Book Project". In that book the first Chapter is: Democracy. That first chapter has, to my reading, the exact same theme as stated by HCR in her book announcement.
In that first Chapter of the 1619 Book Project, "Democracy" is an unwinding of a puzzle of a young Nicole, whose Dad, a black man, always flew the American flag. She came to her own personal understanding of why: He was hopeful for an all inclusive "American Democracy", one that had excluded black people for ALL of its history.
Jones book, along with "The Warmth of Other Suns" changed my entire thinking about America and permanently. Changed my life really.
Suddenly, for the first time, I understood why, in my 38 year career in three huge American Corporations, I saw two black professionals at my level (PhD engineer), both of whom were highly capable, but, eventually laid off.
Watching a sea of, to be honest, OFTEN incompetent white engineers stay employed and even be promoted, while the two black PhD's (who seemed reasonable and competent to me) were let go?
Helped move me to read the two books noted here in this comment.
Perhaps, since HCR is white and, now famous, her book will not be minimized/objected to by white male, southern historians, and even some other white male historians in the north, like Hannah-Jones book was.
I have reviewed many technical papers and am here to say: Hannah-Jones makes not one statement or observation without good references to back it up. Period.
I would also offer: The 1619 Book Project has more references, by hundreds and hundreds, than any history book or technical book I have ever read, and, I have read way too many technical books in my walk through my technology career.
I do believe HCR will be the first white historian to admit and then begin the walk up the same historical thematic view of America as Nicole Hannah-Jones has so bravely done for all of us.
My most hearty congratulations and thanks. I will buy the book.
Just added 1619 to my book list. Thanks Mike. I have been aware of it and read the controversies about it. Your full throated endorsement means I need to read it.
Might I herald all you say here, Mike, only to add that I have not read Nichole Hannah-Jones' book, but I did listen to the podcasts when they were first published in the NYT in 2019, the 400th anniversary of the first slaves to land on what would come to be American soil.
Dear Lynell, thank you for the podcast link…the waves, wow! An awesome uncle of mine — who also spends time here in Heather’s classroom — recently visited me on a “civil rights reckoning” tour of sorts (awesome activist, even as a teen in Alabama). He told me all about his experience a week before in Montgomery at The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. He too heard the sorrowful waves there.
I purchased two signed copies of the 1619 Project when it was first published, and boy, am I ever glad that I did!
I gave one of them to my youngest daughter, who is the mother of my grandson who was just starting high school at that point, and the other one to some very dear friends who live close by me. I still have yet to read it myself. I need to go over to "visit them" and peruse it.
looking forward to the book...I'm hoping it will illuminate what I'm working on. Launch it on Sept 17 at Antietam...the day that allowed the Emancipation Proclamation to be issued. I'll be there with a camera.
I left Facebook because I got swallowed by the torrents of insane statements by ant-vaxxers, bigots, haters, WMD lovers and all around Trumper nutcases. If I had disciplined myself to ignore them and just focus on key subjects - I would have found Heather's announcement.
Maybe someday I will venture back into the wilderness of FB. But it will take so much time to sort. And I would have to park my anger at Zuck. In the meantime, I am happily dwelling in substack land. And we have you to find a gem like this. Thanks again. I am very excited to read her next book!
I have kept Facebook, but stopped engaging with the former coworkers and their friends who were all of the negative things you mentioned (assuming that my WMD lovers you mean gun-lovers). My life has been much better since then, although occasionally I see their posts and get riled up--I am disciplined and don't say anything on their pages anymore. Some I "snooze" when they get too spun, but one of them posts funny cat stuff along side his Prager U and Fox garbage.
Lynell, thank you. It was very thoughtful and generous of you to share HCR's words about her new book with us. It comes at a time when we are trying to absorb what is happening in Sudan and, of course, here in the US.
'...new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life.' (HCR)
It is called "Democracy Awakening", a beautiful reality; may it be so.
Chops wood ,s carry water by Jessica Craven has snippets of the positive directions the country is moving. The Missoulian is full of letters & an editorial protesting the silencing of the trans woman in the State legislature .
I set most of my FB posts to private (as my personal journal with articles and pictures) and periodically backup the account to a remote drive. I keep FB so I can get HCR’s biweekly videos in “real time” rather than delayed for weeks or months on YouTube. I keep encouraging non FB friends it is really easy to do that and not get dragged into the chaos of the site. I have taken to listening to HCR and Joanne Freeman’s “Now and Then” podcasts while on the elliptical at the gym. An hour goes by very quickly! This Substack group commentary also enhances the information and knowledge stream.
ditto. I like my life uncluttered. There are things on FB that are worthwhile. It doesn't take much to manage the settings so you see only what you want, and keep your own stuff private. I don't even get ads anymore.
This is exciting. Spent 10 years on a small boat in the canals and rivers of France, beginning 2001. Out in the countryside we were remembered often as the American “liberators.” I began to see US as “the bad teenagers on the block,” so reading Professor Richardson on American democracy is a wonderful prospect. Having started off poor in the South, the 1619 project is in my bones.
Hey, Marj. I preordered on Amazon. I just typed in "Democracy Awakening Heather Cox Richardson" and it popped up. I'm sure there are other booksellers out there as well, like:
Lynell, gratitude to you for sharing the Professor’s letter and news. It’s a challenge to keep up with so many Substacks and new books and this is one I want in my hand.
Lynell - thank you for sharing Heather's fb post about Democracy Awakening. Love this community!
I should have thought to add Heather's post to my comment, but it was 3am and brain not fully functioning. I do wish I could post a picture of the gorgeous cover here, but since it's already listed as the #1 Bestseller in the History category on Amazon, it appears folks have found it. I preordered there to add a tiny boost, but prefer to support my local bookstore. I was able to preorder there as well. I know I'll be gifting copies including one to my local library.
Along those lines, a fb commenter suggested recommending the book to your local public library. Libraries have budgets for adding new books to their collections and often have a means to make book purchase recommendations. Although we'll all have to wait until September for a copy, this would be a great way to boost its reach across the country.
Jen, my thanks to you for mentioning Heather's FB post about her book. I would not have known about it otherwise. Realizing there are many on Substack who do not subscribe to FB even to hear her chats, I was nonetheless sure they would appreciate what she had to say.
And thanks for the idea to gift a book to our libraries as well as recommending it for them to procure several copies.
When I read the part about the women of Sudan rising up in 2019 against brutal dictatorship, I immediately thought of the title and cover of your new book, especially the graphic of the hand of Lady Liberty. Earlier in the day when you shared it on fb, it really struck me. Now I’m imagining women all over this country and across the globe taking up that torch!
Here are Heather's comments on Facebook:
"This note is not part of the Letters from an American series. It is instead an announcement— which comes from a bit of a place of surprise, to be honest— and a thank you to everyone who reads here.
"The announcement is that it appears my new book is a real thing.
"It has a cover now (which is what has prompted this note) and will come out in mid-September. It is 30 short chapters in three sections for a total of 250 pages of text, and I think it is… not bad, which is about as far as any writer will— or should— go on a new book.
The book is called Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, and it tries to explain how we got to this political moment… and how we get out. There is a lot of material in it you all will recognize— on the Trump years, for example, and how we got to them and how we got through them— but there is a lot that is new, too, reflecting how the last several years have made me reconceive the way I think about the meaning of history. In the end, this book makes an argument for a new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life.
"Writing the book was a very odd experience. Because I was writing so much else, I could never focus on the book exclusively as I have for previous books. I would write in the mornings, but every afternoon I would have to pack up whatever was in front of me and start working on the nightly letter. When one chapter was done, I would throw it aside and ignore it while working on the next. It was almost as if I was seeing the project only in my peripheral vision while looking intently at what was in front of me.
"Then stuff happened (there was a wedding in there! 🙂 ) so I took a break from the manuscript before picking it up for the second draft.
"When I did turn back to it, I discovered something curious: it was almost as if the chapters had been chatting together while I ignored them, and they demanded an entire reworking. That reworking meant I rewrote close to 80% of the manuscript, and developed a much different thesis than I had set out to write two years ago. It was rather as if I had seen things more clearly out of the corner of my eye than if I had been looking directly at it.
"The manuscript turned into a voyage of discovery for me, and it ended up feeling very much like I didn’t have a lot of control over it: I was just bringing a definitive shape to the questions, comments, concerns, and hopes of so many people who have been part of the crazy journey of the past three and a half years.
"And that’s where the thank you comes in. This really is your book as much as it ever was mine.
"I hope you like it."
I look forward to reading "Democracy Awakening" soon!
"In the end, this book makes an argument for a new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life."
Thanks for posting. I don't have facebook.
Perhaps this book will help support Nicole Hannah Jones book "The 1619 Book Project". In that book the first Chapter is: Democracy. That first chapter has, to my reading, the exact same theme as stated by HCR in her book announcement.
In that first Chapter of the 1619 Book Project, "Democracy" is an unwinding of a puzzle of a young Nicole, whose Dad, a black man, always flew the American flag. She came to her own personal understanding of why: He was hopeful for an all inclusive "American Democracy", one that had excluded black people for ALL of its history.
Jones book, along with "The Warmth of Other Suns" changed my entire thinking about America and permanently. Changed my life really.
Suddenly, for the first time, I understood why, in my 38 year career in three huge American Corporations, I saw two black professionals at my level (PhD engineer), both of whom were highly capable, but, eventually laid off.
Watching a sea of, to be honest, OFTEN incompetent white engineers stay employed and even be promoted, while the two black PhD's (who seemed reasonable and competent to me) were let go?
Helped move me to read the two books noted here in this comment.
Perhaps, since HCR is white and, now famous, her book will not be minimized/objected to by white male, southern historians, and even some other white male historians in the north, like Hannah-Jones book was.
I have reviewed many technical papers and am here to say: Hannah-Jones makes not one statement or observation without good references to back it up. Period.
I would also offer: The 1619 Book Project has more references, by hundreds and hundreds, than any history book or technical book I have ever read, and, I have read way too many technical books in my walk through my technology career.
I do believe HCR will be the first white historian to admit and then begin the walk up the same historical thematic view of America as Nicole Hannah-Jones has so bravely done for all of us.
My most hearty congratulations and thanks. I will buy the book.
Just added 1619 to my book list. Thanks Mike. I have been aware of it and read the controversies about it. Your full throated endorsement means I need to read it.
Life changing book Bill.
Might I herald all you say here, Mike, only to add that I have not read Nichole Hannah-Jones' book, but I did listen to the podcasts when they were first published in the NYT in 2019, the 400th anniversary of the first slaves to land on what would come to be American soil.
Here are the 7 episodes of the podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1619/id1476928106
Thanks to the pointer to the podcasts.
I usually read but recently do listen at the gym to podcasts.
At the beginning, when you listen, you'll hear the waves slapping against the Virginia shore. It gave me chills.
Dear Lynell, thank you for the podcast link…the waves, wow! An awesome uncle of mine — who also spends time here in Heather’s classroom — recently visited me on a “civil rights reckoning” tour of sorts (awesome activist, even as a teen in Alabama). He told me all about his experience a week before in Montgomery at The Legacy Museum and The National Memorial for Peace and Justice. He too heard the sorrowful waves there.
http://museumandmemorial.eji.org/
Mike S, you can read Letters (and comment) thru email. It does require a paid subscription to comment that way.
Sara. I am a paid subscriber here. But. Don’t have Facebook.
I purchased two signed copies of the 1619 Project when it was first published, and boy, am I ever glad that I did!
I gave one of them to my youngest daughter, who is the mother of my grandson who was just starting high school at that point, and the other one to some very dear friends who live close by me. I still have yet to read it myself. I need to go over to "visit them" and peruse it.
Thanks Lynell, from those of us who are not on fecebook or twits.
“... explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans....”
That phrase just leaps off the page at me. Blacks, people of color, women, LGBTQ, low income.
Check your your privilege at the door Republicans and come join us.
We the People. All of us this time! (Thank you Lynell and thank you HCR.)
Agree, Sheila. That phrase!
looking forward to the book...I'm hoping it will illuminate what I'm working on. Launch it on Sept 17 at Antietam...the day that allowed the Emancipation Proclamation to be issued. I'll be there with a camera.
Great idea, Mike - September 17.
Thank you Lynell !
I left Facebook because I got swallowed by the torrents of insane statements by ant-vaxxers, bigots, haters, WMD lovers and all around Trumper nutcases. If I had disciplined myself to ignore them and just focus on key subjects - I would have found Heather's announcement.
Maybe someday I will venture back into the wilderness of FB. But it will take so much time to sort. And I would have to park my anger at Zuck. In the meantime, I am happily dwelling in substack land. And we have you to find a gem like this. Thanks again. I am very excited to read her next book!
I have kept Facebook, but stopped engaging with the former coworkers and their friends who were all of the negative things you mentioned (assuming that my WMD lovers you mean gun-lovers). My life has been much better since then, although occasionally I see their posts and get riled up--I am disciplined and don't say anything on their pages anymore. Some I "snooze" when they get too spun, but one of them posts funny cat stuff along side his Prager U and Fox garbage.
This, too, applies to Twitter! Best to just say "Bless your heart" if tempted to say something!
I don’t use Facebook because it encroaches on my chess play time. 😊
Smart move. Whacka. Whacka.
So glad to have posted HCR's remarks from FB to our Substack page. We all know Heather never toots her own horn. It's up to us to toot it for her!
Lynell, thank you. It was very thoughtful and generous of you to share HCR's words about her new book with us. It comes at a time when we are trying to absorb what is happening in Sudan and, of course, here in the US.
'...new understanding of U.S. history as an explicitly democratic history, kept alive primarily by marginalized Americans who have worked to expand our rights and bring the principles of the Declaration of Independence to life.' (HCR)
It is called "Democracy Awakening", a beautiful reality; may it be so.
Chops wood ,s carry water by Jessica Craven has snippets of the positive directions the country is moving. The Missoulian is full of letters & an editorial protesting the silencing of the trans woman in the State legislature .
Love that Jessica woman! Good to know about the Missoulian, Carole. Thanks!
Dare I say it, Fern? Yay for being woke!
You are the friend to all of us, Lynell. 🌻
Takes one to know one, friend.
Together. Hand to heart.
I set most of my FB posts to private (as my personal journal with articles and pictures) and periodically backup the account to a remote drive. I keep FB so I can get HCR’s biweekly videos in “real time” rather than delayed for weeks or months on YouTube. I keep encouraging non FB friends it is really easy to do that and not get dragged into the chaos of the site. I have taken to listening to HCR and Joanne Freeman’s “Now and Then” podcasts while on the elliptical at the gym. An hour goes by very quickly! This Substack group commentary also enhances the information and knowledge stream.
I do the same thing, Janet!
ditto. I like my life uncluttered. There are things on FB that are worthwhile. It doesn't take much to manage the settings so you see only what you want, and keep your own stuff private. I don't even get ads anymore.
Thank you! Where do we preorder Democracy Awakening?
I just pre-ordered it at bn.com. It will publish on September 26. Hardcover $30.00. I read e-books so it was $14.99
This is exciting. Spent 10 years on a small boat in the canals and rivers of France, beginning 2001. Out in the countryside we were remembered often as the American “liberators.” I began to see US as “the bad teenagers on the block,” so reading Professor Richardson on American democracy is a wonderful prospect. Having started off poor in the South, the 1619 project is in my bones.
Yowsa; thanks for this comment, Virginia. Love it.
Thanks Bill! I just pre-ordered too!!!
I just preordered on Amazon. Can’t wait!😊
I was able to preorder through my local bookstore on their website.
I just preordered it on Amazon.
Hey, Marj. I preordered on Amazon. I just typed in "Democracy Awakening Heather Cox Richardson" and it popped up. I'm sure there are other booksellers out there as well, like:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/
I'd like to mention bookshop.org. You order through local bookstores who are members. Shipping is not as fast... prices are close, I think.
Lynell, gratitude to you for sharing the Professor’s letter and news. It’s a challenge to keep up with so many Substacks and new books and this is one I want in my hand.
Fab, Lynell. I love when writers share their experience of writing a book so I can read that as a prologue.
Salud, my friend.
🗽
Happy to oblige, Christine!
Lynell - thank you for sharing Heather's fb post about Democracy Awakening. Love this community!
I should have thought to add Heather's post to my comment, but it was 3am and brain not fully functioning. I do wish I could post a picture of the gorgeous cover here, but since it's already listed as the #1 Bestseller in the History category on Amazon, it appears folks have found it. I preordered there to add a tiny boost, but prefer to support my local bookstore. I was able to preorder there as well. I know I'll be gifting copies including one to my local library.
Along those lines, a fb commenter suggested recommending the book to your local public library. Libraries have budgets for adding new books to their collections and often have a means to make book purchase recommendations. Although we'll all have to wait until September for a copy, this would be a great way to boost its reach across the country.
Jen, my thanks to you for mentioning Heather's FB post about her book. I would not have known about it otherwise. Realizing there are many on Substack who do not subscribe to FB even to hear her chats, I was nonetheless sure they would appreciate what she had to say.
And thanks for the idea to gift a book to our libraries as well as recommending it for them to procure several copies.
I, too, love this community!
Thanks, Lynell. I don't have FB and appreciate your posting this.
You're welcome, Ruth!
Thx for sharing this! WOW!!!!
If only
It is my favorite torch. I’ve used Lady Liberty in my comments for months and months. To me, it is an “everything” image.
Salud, JenG!
🗽