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Democracy in Retrograde: How to Make Changes Big and Small in Our Country and in Our Lives Hardcover – July 9, 2024

by Sami Sage (Author), Emily Amick (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 214 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
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INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A whip-smart combo of self-help and political manifesto that is perfect for anyone who wants to save our democracy but doesn’t know where to start.

In today’s political climate, it’s hard not to get discouraged. Isolated, doom scrolling, lacking a sense of purpose or community...it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the dire state of American democracy and do nothing, because why try when the odds are never in our favor?

At this fragile moment in history, Emily Amick, lawyer and former counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, alongside New York Times bestselling author and Betches Media cofounder Sami Sage, want to reframe civic engagement as a form of self-care: an assertion of one’s values and self-respect. This book is not just about voting, but about claiming your singular place in your country and community.

Including real stories of regular people who have made a difference along with helpful exercises and quizzes, Democracy in Retrograde is a choose-your-own-adventure map to civic engagement that will help you:

*Define your values and passions
*Understand how the system works, so it’s easier to know how to change it
*Match your personality, skills, resources, and interests, to meaningful actions within your community
*Implement changes (big and small) that matter
*Build a civic life that’s sustainable and authentic to you, whether you have only a few minutes to spare or are ready to make a lifetime commitment

Democracy in Retrograde will help you learn about much more than just political action. This book will provide a new lens through which to see yourself: a new and powerful light which bridges the personal and the political. In the words of Joan Baez, action is the antidote to despair, and with this helpful guide, even if Mercury is in retrograde, our democracy doesn’t have to be.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Gallery Books
  4. Publication date
    July 9, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.1 x 8.38 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1668053489
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1668053485
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Through their frank and funny prose and optimistic yet accomplishable ideas that are ripe for discussion, Sage and Amick make engaging in politics seem like less of a drag and actually maybe even fun." —Glamour



“This upbeat, extremely accessible guide to managing political anxiety offers reassurance and hope.” —Booklist

“A smart, pop culture–inflected guide to civic engagement… While the tone is geared toward millennial women—there’s more than one Real Housewives reference here—the pragmatic advice applies across the board.”—Publishers Weekly

“A comprehensive guide to regaining ownership of American civic life… An uplifting and useful book of activism.”—Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Sami Sage is a cofounder and chief brand officer of Betches Media, and established the brand’s politics and activism vertical Betches News. She also hosts the award-winning daily news podcast The Morning Announcements.

Emily Amick is a lawyer, journalist, and political analyst who served as counsel to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. She created @EmilyinYourPhone to give people her insider insight into the political process and help them find ways they can take action.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gallery Books (July 9, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668053489
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668053485
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.38 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 214 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
214 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's insights helpful and easy to digest. They find it inspiring and hopeful, providing practical tools to get involved. Readers describe the content as great, well-written, and an important read for anyone who feels helpless or uncertain. The humor and relatable narrative make the book engaging and fun. Customers appreciate the actionable steps and realistic perspective. Overall, they find the book an easy read that provides a hopeful perspective.

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Information qualityInspirationReadabilityHumorNarrative qualityActionableDigestibilityEase of read
31 customers mention "Information quality"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's insights helpful and easy to understand. It provides realistic tools to get involved and build a personal plan for sustainable engagement. They appreciate learning about their civic personalities and how to best utilize them in the political space. The book serves as an informative volume and practical how-to guide, providing a great resource for navigating the current political climate.

"...tired of the current state of politics, this book will help you reconnect with your community and the benefits of civic participation...." Read more

"...It helps you find your passion and an entry into the important local things...." Read more

"...tangible, practical steps to change my own thoughts and attitudes towards societal change and encouragement to help nudge others and navigate tricky..." Read more

"...The civics personality quiz is so fun and a great way to find ways to help that fit your personality and celebrate your strengths...." Read more

23 customers mention "Inspiration"23 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and hopeful. They find it informative and enlightening, with a practical guide to feeling empowered. The authors provide a positive perspective on how we can take action.

"...copies to give to anyone who needs the hope and the power to help resuscitate our democracy...." Read more

"This book gives great inspiration on how to find your way to get involved in politics in a non-anxiety-provoking way...." Read more

"...you can hop around the book to find what you need at that moment - a pep talk, a very pragmatic checklist, reflection questions, a storytime, JOKES!!..." Read more

"...great way to find ways to help that fit your personality and celebrate your strengths...." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read. They appreciate the well-written content and helpful tips for political outcomes. The authors' writing style is described as conversational, making it an important read for anyone who feels helpless or uncertain.

"Great book to read these days." Read more

"Love how this well written book is a how to guide to get political outcomes you seek! Don’t feel powerless anymore...." Read more

"...informed of politics online, and this book is an important read for anyone who feels helpless or like they aren’t sure where to go from here with..." Read more

"...the general turning of American politics, has you nervous — this is a must read!" Read more

8 customers mention "Humor"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book. They find the journaling prompts fun, with a lighthearted tone. The tips on starting local businesses are useful and engaging.

"...It’s like having a savvy, funny, wise friend who knows you well helping you take it one day at a time but always propelling you forward." Read more

"...There’s quizzes and journaling prompts and it’s very fun in a this is serious but we can’t take ourself too seriously sort of way...." Read more

"...It’s thoughtful, funny, and inspiring. So good!" Read more

"...My favorite thing about this book is the humor, candor, and joy that is ever present. I am so glad I bought it." Read more

5 customers mention "Narrative quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the narrative relatable and hopeful. They appreciate the practical steps to change their thoughts. The book is described as an engaging, informative, fun read with reflection questions, a storytime, jokes, and civics in an authentic and manageable way.

"...It gives tangible, practical steps to change my own thoughts and attitudes towards societal change and encouragement to help nudge others and..." Read more

"...strengths and interests to participate in civics in a way that feels authentic and manageable for you. Get this book, you will not regret it." Read more

"Sami and Emily have done such a great job of creating a hopeful narrative in a year that feels everything but hopeful...." Read more

"...Sami and Emily make these topics so digestible and relatable. It also feels so necessary to hear hopeful, pragmatic voices like these...." Read more

3 customers mention "Actionable"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides accessible action items that increase civic engagement.

"...They offer plenty of accessible action items that don't feel daunting or too hard...." Read more

"...Highly recommend from both an educational and actionable perspective." Read more

"Actionable items to increase your civic engagement." Read more

3 customers mention "Digestibility"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's insights helpful and easy to understand.

"This book was easily digestible, informative and enlightening. I learned so much about government and how I personally can act...." Read more

"...It’s easy to digest but packed with information. You’ll feel like you can actually do something to DO something once you read it. Highly recommend!" Read more

"...for years and have found her insights so helpful and easily digestible. She’s a gem, and so is this book...." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of read"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's ease of reading.

"...Democracy in Retrograde is a clear easy read, and a very practical guide to action. What are your values and what are you able to do?..." Read more

"...⭐️ easy to read in chunks- which makes it easy to read for folks balancing work, caretaking, and self-care...." Read more

"Thank you for providing an easy read to give this busy mom and teacher HOPE and courage!" Read more

Civic engagement as self care
5 out of 5 stars
Civic engagement as self care
Has *waves hands about frantically* all of this gotten you stuck in what Sami Sage and Emily Amick call The Hopelessness Spiral? Sit down in your favorite reading spot with your iced coffee and (after you figure out if you see that cup half full, half empty, or just the only thing you had available to drink) think about how you can take small or big steps to be part of the solution. This book is full of great ideas, journaling prompts, quizzes(!), and more to help you put together a personal plan on how you can sustainably engage in your community and politics.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Without hesitation, I highly recommend this book! I’m buying copies to give to anyone who needs the hope and the power to help resuscitate our democracy. If you’re tired of the current state of politics, this book will help you reconnect with your community and the benefits of civic participation. Honestly, I am so tired of the political arena, which is clearly intended to manipulate and control us regardless of party affiliation. Democracy in Retrograde is a clear easy read, and a very practical guide to action. What are your values and what are you able to do? It empowers you to participate at whatever level is reasonable for you. It’s for every citizen who wants America to be genuinely great now and in the future.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • alexandra l. miller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This book gives great inspiration on how to find your way to get involved in politics in a non-anxiety-provoking way. It helps you find your passion and an entry into the important local things. I got copies for all the women in my life who are also feeling hopeless.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • M K
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hope.
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    As soon as I heard the news about the attempt on Trump’s life, I picked this up again. When I’m so frustrated and feeling helpless, this book breathes life. It gives tangible, practical steps to change my own thoughts and attitudes towards societal change and encouragement to help nudge others and navigate tricky conversations with my communities. I love that you can hop around the book to find what you need at that moment - a pep talk, a very pragmatic checklist, reflection questions, a storytime, JOKES!!, whatever you need for the day to just keep going. It’s like having a savvy, funny, wise friend who knows you well helping you take it one day at a time but always propelling you forward.
    9 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Karyn Noel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful and informative
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Great book to read these days.
    Helpful
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  • Kristen Hamilton
    4.0 out of 5 stars Recommend this one!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2025
    A quick & easy read with lots of great tips on how to start getting involved in what’s happening politically!
    Helpful
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  • Aimee Lecointre
    5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing hope to the table!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Just what we need right now! If you're feeling anxious about anything political in the US right now, if you're feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, you need this book. Sami and Emily are bringing hope to the table with this book! They offer plenty of accessible action items that don't feel daunting or too hard. The civics personality quiz is so fun and a great way to find ways to help that fit your personality and celebrate your strengths. We can't all do it all, but we can all do something to help save democracy!
    Customer image
    Aimee Lecointre
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Bringing hope to the table!

    Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2024
    Just what we need right now! If you're feeling anxious about anything political in the US right now, if you're feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, you need this book. Sami and Emily are bringing hope to the table with this book! They offer plenty of accessible action items that don't feel daunting or too hard. The civics personality quiz is so fun and a great way to find ways to help that fit your personality and celebrate your strengths. We can't all do it all, but we can all do something to help save democracy!
    Images in this review
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    3 people found this helpful
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  • SummerMeadow8
    5.0 out of 5 stars So easy to follow!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It’s really accessible information about government and how things work from bills and elected officials, etc. There’s quizzes and journaling prompts and it’s very fun in a this is serious but we can’t take ourself too seriously sort of way. I have recommended it to many friends and also bought a few copies for friends. I got the audiobook which I listened to while following along with the hardcover. Highly recommend if you’re interested in being involved in your community, being politically active or just care about democracy and enjoy a quiz.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Wompwomp
    3.0 out of 5 stars Kindle format not optimized
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
    As the headline states, the formatting for the Kindle version is pretty wonky. I prefer to go digital when I can, but had to request a return here. No comment on the content, which I didn't get very far into, but if you're interested in reading, I would suggest a hard copy.
    One person found this helpful
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