We Hold These Truths - by Casey Burgat (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"This book is the crash course in civics that America needs."
--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN, and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

"Dismantles dozens of myths about American politics in the service of rebuilding American democracy."
--Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author and former White House speechwriter

"A bracing and often entertaining corrective to some misinformation about the way things work."
--Kirkus Reviews

In this clear-eyed guide, America's political experts cut through the spin and expose the myths holding our democracy back.

Our political system is bogged down by convenient falsehoods, fueled by those who benefit from the chaos. These myths distort our view of government and prevent us from solving real problems, leaving many Americans feeling frustrated and hopeless.

In We Hold These "Truths", former congressional staffer turned George Washington University grad school professor Casey Burgat leads a diverse team of officials, academics, and experts from both sides of the aisle to expose the lies at the heart of our political dysfunction. They debunk talking points about presidential power, the Constitution, term limits, lobbyists, and more--offering real-world insights into how our government actually works.

Replacing myths with clarity and solutions, We Hold These "Truths" empowers us all to see past the distractions, understand the system, and demand the kind of government that will actually bring about positive change.

Chapters:

"The Founders, In Their Infinite Wisdom..." by Dr. Lindsay Chervinsky
"Members of Congress Don't Do Anything" by Rep. Derek Kilmer
"The President Should Just..." by Alyssa Farah Griffin
"I vote the issues, not the party" by Dr. Lilliana Mason
"The Supreme Court Has Become Politicized" by Steve Vladeck,
"Politicians Are Bought and Paid For" by Rep. Steve Israel
"Bipartisanship is Dead" by Dr. Frances E. Lee and Dr. James Curry
"The Filibuster Forces Compromise" by Adam Jentleson
"I Wish the Parties Would Work Together" by Rep. Bill Pascrell
"Lobbyists Are Evil" by Rev. Quardricos Driskell
"The Media Wants to Polarize Us" by Matt Fuller
"Keep Your Politics Out of My Sports" by Jane McManus

Review Quotes

We are barraged with so much information, so much going on, and events happening with lightning speed.

Even those of us who think we are paying attention and reading everything have a hard time finding clarity around some basic political and legal issues.

So what's myth? What's real? What has historical context ? All of it can be bewildering.

Casey Burgat to the rescue! He has assembled a group of writers and a series of essays that bring context and clarity and great writing and insight to some of the most confounding issues.

Loved learning and challenging my biases. Loved reading.--Roxanne Coady, RJ Julia Booksellers

"A bracing and often entertaining corrective to some misinformation about the way things work."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"We Hold These "Truths" dismantles dozens of myths about American politics in the service of rebuilding American democracy. Burgat teaches us that the solutions are never simple or quick--but that they are within our reach if we're humble enough to rethink our assumptions and bold enough to reform our institutions."--Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author and former White House speechwriter

"This book is the crash course in civics that America needs. Leveraging his expertise as a political scientist, Casey Burgat overturns widespread assumptions about why government is broken and how to fix it. Reading it won't give you all the answers, but it will help you ask better questions and have more thoughtful conversations."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of THINK AGAIN, and host of the podcast Re: Thinking

About the Author

Casey Burgat is a former congressional staffer turned politics professor at George Washington University's Graduate School of Political Management. Respected across the aisle, Casey is a political expert, particularly on the workings of Congress. He's a regular contributor to Barron's, and frequently provides commentary to outlets such as CNN, The Washington Post, FoxNews, Politico, and The Daily Beast. Casey is also the creator of the Substack, Crash Course with Casey Burgat, which highlights the importance of civics in America, and the host of the popular political podcast Mastering the Room.