by Ben Wikler
First published 2026
Ben Wikler transformed Wisconsin from America's most gerrymandered state into a functioning democracy. Nancy Pelosi called him the nation's top state party chair after he guided Wisconsin Democrats through narrow victories against right-wing opponents. Wikler draws from his experience across all levels of politics, from school board contests to presidential campaigns. He reveals the networks of power that control American life and demonstrates what ordinary citizens can accomplish. The book combines decades of political knowledge with practical steps for individuals and small groups. Wikler argues that people can build a democracy that serves everyone, not just the powerful. His approach mixes idealism with realistic tactics, backed by the energy that motivated thousands of volunteers in Wisconsin's political battles.
Genres: political-science, biography-memoir, activism, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: real-events, underdog
Setting: Wisconsin, America
Period: 21st-century
336 pages · Hardcover · W. W. Norton & Company