The Feminist Public Square
July’s book: Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick
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 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.
Using real stories of regular citizens who have made a difference, Democracy in Retrograde is a choose-your-own-adventure map to civic engagement that’s tailored to your values, skills, passions, resources, and time. Whether you have only a few hours to spare or are ready to make a lifetime commitment, Amick and Sage show you how to make changes big and small that matter.
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 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.
Books for 2026
Our book choices are directly paired with our 60th Anniversary campaign. Check out the page to learn how you can get involved.
Capsule 1: Cost of Being a Woman
-JANUARY: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade
-FEBRUARY: The Cost of Being a Girl by Yasemin Besen-Cassino (YF)
-MARCH: Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap
Capsule 2: Protecting Care, Protecting Choice
-APRIL: An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal
-MAY: Liberating Abortion by Renee Bracy Sherman and Regina Mahone
-JUNE: Fighting Mad: Resisting the End of Roe v. Wade by Krystale Littlejohn (YF)
Capsule 3: Securing Rights, Shaping the Future
-JULY: Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage & Emily Amick
-AUGUST: The Women’s Revolution by Muriel Fox
-SEPTEMBER: When We’re In Charge by Amanda Litman (YF)
Capsule 4: Ending Gender Violence
-OCTOBER: Man Up by Cynthia Miller-Idris
-NOVEMBER: Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo (YF)
-DECEMBER: Nobody’s Girl by Virginia Guiffre
Welcome to the Feminist Public Square — welcome to the movement.
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