Life throws us curveballs, and we adapt.
For instance, I never meant to read so many books on authoritarianism, but that’s just the way things have gone.
With the Trump 2.0 administration poised to take office in short order, maybe it’s time for everyone to read more about autocracies — how they rise, how they affect the environment, and (of course) how to fight and stand up to them.
Here are 20 books, including some primers on environmental activism, to help provide a roadmap for the days ahead. As always the link for each book goes to its publisher’s site; you should also be able to find many of these books through your local library or bookseller. Just try to read them before the next wave of book bans…
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder — A compact but essential book that got many of us through the first Trump administration. Still painfully relevant.
Autocracy, Inc.: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum — Follow the money. It’s the key to understanding what motivates the current crop of kleptocrats, even more than traditional power and megalomania.
Mayor’s Desk: 20 Conversations With Local Leaders Solving Global Problems by Anthony Flint — We won’t see much federal action to combat climate change and other crises anytime soon, but you can expect local action to continue (and perhaps become even more important). Books like this help share effective local success stories so they can be replicated elsewhere. Once they’re effective in enough places, it’s hard to argue that they don’t deserve to go even wider.
Project 2025 — Let’s be clear: This isn’t an endorsement. This book is the Necronomicon of the 21st century — a dark tome designed to tear down the administrative state and sow chaos for millions of people. The Trump campaign swore this wasn’t its policy manual, but let’s see how many of the authors join the new administration and what they get up to in the months ahead. Meanwhile this blueprint for right-wing destruction — which says the quiet parts out loud — offers critical insight on where we need to build our opposition and resistance.
Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat — Published in 2021, this book has already helped to define the modern conversation about authoritarianism and will continue to do so.
On Disinformation: How to Fight for Truth and Protect Democracy by Lee McIntyre — If you think disinformation is gone until the next election cycle, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
America Last: The Right’s Century-Long Romance With Foreign Dictators by Jacob Heilbrunn — Why do so many U.S. leaders swoon over autocrats? This book offers important lessons. It’s not a new trend, so understanding the historic roots could help us in the future.
The “Defending American Democracy” series by Richard L. Abel — Three books (soon to be joined by a fourth), all bearing the subhead “Resistance to Trump and Trumpism.” They’re a bit on the pricey side, and perhaps more academic than many readers need, but they present a powerful portrait and critical understanding of today’s strongmen in general and Trump in particular. They may also offer strategies for turning the tide.
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- How Autocrats Abuse Power
- How Autocrats Attack Expertise
- How Autocrats Seek Power
- How Autocrats Are Held Accountable (coming mid-2025)
Youth to Power: Your Voice and How to Use It by Jamie Margolin — An essential book for young activists. It’s a couple of years old now, but it can still help to motivate the next generation.
Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen — A powerful book by one of journalism’s best. Gessen links what she saw in her home country of Russia with what’s been happening in the United States. Again, this is a few years old, but it’s vital history.
Patriot: A Memoir by Alexei Navalny — The Russian activist was willing to die for his homeland. His memoir, written in the prison where he would later die, offers lessons to help the rest of us live.
Climate of Contempt: How to Rescue the U.S. Energy Transition From Voter Partisanship by David Spence — Something to study before the next election. Assuming we get to have one.
Earth’s Emergency Room: Saving Species as the Planet and Politics Get Hotter by Lowell E. Baier — A testament to the Endangered Species Act intended to generate bipartisan support for conservation. Here’s hoping it’s not too late.
On Freedom by Timothy Snyder — This powerful and insightful follow-up to On Tyranny offers a new way of looking at human needs and government.
Presence Activism: A Profound Antidote to Climate Anxiety by Lynne Sedgmore — The best thing to do when you’re feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis (or Trump 2.0) is to do anything. Taking action improves mental wellbeing, and acting collectively makes a huge difference. We’ll need to keep our anxiety and dread at bay the next few years; helping the planet and other people is one way to accomplish that, while doing some good in the process.
Preventing the Greenlash: How to Overcome Opposition to Green Policies by Lorenzo Forni — We’re going to get a lot of resistance to environmental regulation in the next few years. This book may offer a model for overcoming some of that. (Available Dec. 3.)
Engage, Connect, Protect: Empowering Diverse Youth as Environmental Leaders by Angelou Ezeilo — The founder of the Greening Youth Foundation provides a toolkit for engaging younger participants from African American, Latino and Native American communities. We’re going to need them.
Turf War: How a Band of Activists Saved New York From Donald Trump’s “Masterpiece” by Steven Robinson — See, he can be beaten!
Of course we could add many other books about activism, democracy, compassion, or environmental science to this list. Share your recommendations here and we’ll add them below.
That’s it for this month, but you can find hundreds of additional environmental book recommendations, including dozens of books on activism, in the “Revelator Reads” archives.
