MoveOn's 50 Ways To Love Your Country: How To Find Your Political Voice And Become A Catalyst For Change

It's rare to see an entire grassroots political organisation listed as authors of a book, but it's perfectly in keeping with the spirit of MoveOn.org. 50 Ways to Love Your Country: How to Find Your Political Voice and Become a Catalyst for Change is their handbook on civic activism, which features 50 short chapters (one or two pages each in most cases) authored by non-celebrities from all walks of life who took it upon themselves to change the world. Some of the ideas are ambitious, as in the case of a liberal-minded Texan who decided the best way to make his views known was to run against Republican stalwart Tom DeLay in the GOP primary. Others are much simpler: write a letter to the editor, sign a petition, or go to a rally. But even in those seemingly obvious tactics, there are interesting techniques offered that could make a simple act a much more effective one. Included in each tip are bullet-pointed tips from MoveOn organisers to help the reader translate the idea into real action.

While MoveOn is certainly not the first group to suggest simple steps to change the world, this volume scores points for its concise editing and populist authorship. It's not a book to curl up with in front of the fire, it's meant to be thrown into a backpack or purse on the way to the next protest, campaign rally, or discussion group. The slant, like the organisation itself, is a liberal one but the writers generally stop short of expanding on their political beliefs, choosing instead to focus on what those beliefs inspired them to do with their time and energy. Brief interstitial essays by notables such as Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi introduce sections of the book, providing expert gravity without detracting from the common person message. --John Moe, Amazon.com

"[MoveOn.org is the] hottest political organization in American progressive circles."