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Insight Discussion (Book) Group
Many books tell us what has happened over the last five years. In Democracy Awakening, Richardson wrangles America’s meandering and confusing news feed into a coherent story to explain how America got to this perilous point, what we should pay attention to, and what the future of democracy holds.
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A New York Times Bestseller, and vital call to action about the state of American democracy, charting its historical challenges and current threats, from one of our era’s most important and insightful historians, with a new afterword by the author.
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Heather Cox Richardson, American historian, is a professor of history at Boston College and an expert on political and economic history
📘 Book Club Reading Schedule: Democracy Awakening
Start Date: Friday, January 7, 2026
Meeting Day: Fridays
Holiday Break: None (schedule begins after winter holidays)
🗓️ Weekly Sessions
Week 1
📅 Friday, Jan 9, 2026
📖 Introduction + Chapters 1–5
🧠 Topics: Foundations of democracy, Reconstruction, rise of movement conservatism
📄 Pages: ~66
Week 2
📅 Friday, Jan 16, 2026
📖 Chapters 6–10
🧠 Topics: Nixon, Reagan, and modern political polarization
📄 Pages: ~64
Week 3
📅 Friday, Jan 23, 2026
📖 Chapters 11–16
🧠 Topics: Trump’s rise, disinformation, erosion of democratic norms
📄 Pages: ~62
Week 4
📅 Friday, Jan 30, 2026
📖 Chapters 17–22
🧠 Topics: January 6, the Big Lie, media and courts
📄 Pages: ~56
Week 5
📅 Friday, Feb 6, 2026
📖 Chapters 23–29 + Conclusion + Afterward
🧠 Topics: Civic renewal, historical memory, paths forward
📄 Pages: ~44
If you have any questions or comments please reach out. Email is the best way to reach me, but you can reach me by phone at 360.500.5655
I’m looking forward to learning with you and sharing our discoveries,
Cassandra