By Eric Liu

On Sale: Mar 28, 2017
Page Count: 256 pages
Publisher: PublicAffairs
ISBN-13: 9781610397087

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$12.99 CAD

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A handbook for how political power really works, and what it takes to make change happen

“[Liu] addresses a central question of this age: what, exactly, citizens who are unhappy with national politics can do, other than write a check or await the next chance to vote.” —The Atlantic

In this age of epic political turbulence, citizens everywhere are organizing to claim their power. Do you understand what power truly is, how it flows, who has it, and how you can exercise it? This incisive, inspiring, and provocative book from Citizen University founder Eric Liu offers the answers.

Using examples from the left and right, past and present, he reveals the core laws of civic power. He shows that all of us can generate power—and then, step by step, he shows us how. The strategies of reform and revolution Liu lays out will help every reader make sense of our world today. If you want to be more than a spectator in this new era, you need to read this book.

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Eric Liu is the founder and CEO of Citizen University (citizenuniversity.us) and executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship and American Identity Program. He is the author of several books, including A Chinaman's Chance, The Gardens of Democracy, and The Accidental Asian. Eric served as a White House speechwriter and policy adviser for President Bill Clinton. He is a regular columnist for CNN.com and a correspondent for TheAtlantic.com.

“An engaging and extremely timely book . . . [Liu] has assembled stories of citizen action and distilled them into powerful insights and strategies.”
The New York Times
“[Liu] addresses a central question of this age: what, exactly, citizens who are unhappy with national politics can do, other than write a check or await the next chance to vote.”
The Atlantic
“At the heart of Liu’s book is the question of power, something that he correctly notes is deeply obscured in American society . . . A self-help book for the would-be activist.”
The Washington Post
“There is no more pressing time than now to understand your own power and use it, and there is no better guide to doing so than Liu. This book is a way of living, individually and collectively, in a changing America.”
Jose Antonio Vargas, author of national bestseller Dear America
“Those who want a more sustainable and just future often feel powerless against big corporations and the 1 percent. After reading Eric Liu’s book, I see we do have power; we just need to better understand and leverage it. Read this book and let's get to work!”
Annie Leonard, author of The Story of Stuff
“You're More Powerful Than You Think lays out a clear, practical model for organizing that will be hugely valuable to a new generation of social and political activists—at a moment when the nation badly needs them.”
E. J. Dionne, New York Times bestselling coauthor of One Nation After Trump
“An important and needed update of the rules of community organizing in the Internet Age. But unlike Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, there is nothing cynical or manipulative in Liu's vision. We may disagree on many policy specifics, but we agree that dispersed citizen power is the new normal, and that ‘many smalls can surpass a few bigs.’ This hopeful and essential book shows us how to take responsibility for our democracy.”
Matt Kibbe, New York Times bestselling author of Don’t Hurt People and Don’t Take Their Stuff
“Liu has written a primer on power that is a call to active citizenship. His energy and optimism are infectious, just as his vision of power is contagious. Anyone who wants to make change, large or small, should absorb the message and master the strategies in these pages.”
Anne-Marie Slaughter, author of Unfinished Business
“This is a smart, insightful book about one of the most timely topics of our times: How to create change. With practical examples and keen analysis, Liu offers sure strategies on how you can maximize your power, organize communities, reframe the narrative and change your world.”
Lynn Povich, author of The Good Girls Revolt
“Liu’s new book is profound and elegant, wise and accessible. Right alongside his diagnosis of the problems are thoughtful, energizing solutions. Be prepared to understand your own political agency in a whole new light.”
Ai-jen Poo, author of The Age of Dignity
“At one point, Liu writes ‘power is a gift.’ Well, this book is also a gift—especially for all those who want to understand the complex role power plays in our society, and their power to change it. By weaving together comprehensive analysis, compelling stories, and change-making strategies, Liu has created an essential guide for citizens seeking to understand and exercise their own power to make the world a better place.”
Darren Walker, author of The Idea of America
“Many of us want to make change but don't know where to start. Liu’s wide-ranging career proves he is a doer—and with this thoughtful, forthright, provocative work, he empowers us to be the same.”
Brittany N. Packnett, host, Undistracted podcast

Eric Liu

About the Author

Eric Liu is the founder and CEO of Citizen University (citizenuniversity.us) and executive director of the Aspen Institute Citizenship and American Identity Program. He is the author of several books, including A Chinaman’s Chance, The Gardens of Democracy, and The Accidental Asian. Eric served as a White House speechwriter and policy adviser for President Bill Clinton. He is a regular columnist for CNN.com and a correspondent for TheAtlantic.com.

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