America’s Dark Era Could End in 2029 (w/ Brian Beutler)

This book explores the era after the Civil War, a time marked by high voter turnout, rough elections, and battles over race, immigration, and income inequality. It tells the story of how Americans sought to fix their democracy during this period, highlighting the lives of a remarkable father-daughter dynasty, William 'Pig Iron' Kelley and Florence Kelley, and their involvement in the nation's politics.

In this book, Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt examine the breakdown of democracies, arguing that modern democracies do not die in a sudden coup but rather through the slow erosion of critical institutions and political norms. Drawing on decades of research and examples from 1930s Europe to contemporary cases in Hungary, Turkey, Venezuela, and the American South during Jim Crow, the authors highlight the importance of mutual toleration and forbearance in maintaining democratic stability. They identify key indicators of authoritarian behavior, such as the rejection of democratic rules, denial of opponents' legitimacy, tolerance of violence, and curtailment of civil liberties. The book also discusses the role of political parties in defending democracy and proposes solutions to counteract democratic backsliding, including elite-level cooperation, addressing social inequalities, and restoring democratic norms.

This graphic novel collects the backstories of the main characters from The Expanse, including James Holden, Naomi Nagata, Alex Kamal, Amos Burton, and Josephus Miller. The stories, created by James S.A. Corey but written by Hallie Lambert and Georgia Lee, and illustrated by Huang Danlan, provide insight into what led each character to join the crew of the Canterbury. The collection follows the television series continuity and offers a compelling look at the characters' pasts, making it a must-read for fans of The Expanse.