About Guerrilla Readers
Launching January 2
Guerrilla. A guerrilla is part of a small independent army that fights a larger, more established force using tactics that include the element of surprise. In social/cultural/artistic life, a guerrilla critic, writer, artist, or performer stands apart from the mainstream, a paradigm-shattering dissenter who challenges and expands the boundaries of contemporary thought and practice.
The Guerrilla Readers is a Substack group that will read and discuss a dozen timely, issue-oriented, idea-driven books (mostly but not necessarily nonfiction). These are written by guerrilla writers who challenge us to reflect on current events in this country: where we are and what it looks like, how we got here and where we’re going, what people are doing about it. Crucially, we will also discuss—from where we stand as individuals—how these national and global events are shaping our personal stories. This is likely to be a partisan, left-leaning group with liberal-progressive values. Posts are free, comments are open to paid subscribers.
How this will work. We’ll start with three books I’ve selected (two by Substack authors). We’ll compile the rest of the reading list from the group’s suggestions. early in the month and open our discussion on these days. The first three books open three different windows on the past history of our current situation:
January 20, 2025 Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, by Heather Cox Richardson. On a national level, the historical forces that have created the current political climate.
February 17. Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, by Kristin Kobes Du Mez. The evolving history of the evangelical subculture, leading to the 2016 election (and by extension, 2024): patriarchy, aggressive masculinity, authoritarian governance, intrusion of church into state.
March 17. Prequel, by Rachel Maddow. The history of a virulent American strain of authoritarianism on the far-right rim of political life, now a dominant political force.
Early in the month, I’ll post a review and some contextual comments about the book and its author. On the third Monday, I’ll open the discussion (in the usual comment space) for supporting subscribers. On each of the following two Fridays, I’ll send a few more thoughts and questions. Our comment space will remain open so you can return to it at any time.
I’m still looking for challenging, timely books (nonfiction, fiction) about global warming, women’s reproductive health, the media, gender, immigration, education, agriculture, the American diet/food industry. Recent titles preferred because our world is shifting under our feet. Supporting/paid subscribers: direct message your title suggestions to me.
I’ll post the book list and upcoming discussion dates on this page.