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  • Experts

American Progressivism

American Progressivism

Last updated: February 28, 2025

What does it mean to be a progressive in America? In this special series Five Books approached ten political commentators, activists and politicians and asked them to talk about which books were most important for the progressive cause.

The series was edited by Eve Gerber, our US editor, and Neera Tanden, who currently serves as Domestic Policy Advisor to Joe Biden.

Unlike our American Conservatism series, we did not arrange a vote to establish the ultimate books in the progressive canon. However, we can highlight the books that were chosen more than once: John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath (chosen by both John Kerry and Antonio Villaraigosa) and Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson.

How do the choices, made well before he was even a candidate, stand up in the age of Trump?

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr

    1

    Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story
    by Martin Luther King Jr

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and assisted by Alex Haley, Laurence Fishburne (narrator)

    2

    The Autobiography of Malcolm X
    by Malcolm X and assisted by Alex Haley, Laurence Fishburne (narrator)

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - The Two-Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi

    3

    The Two-Income Trap
    by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

    4

    Winner-Take-All Politics
    by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - God’s Politics by Jim Wallis

    5

    God’s Politics
    by Jim Wallis

  • As American congressman Keith Ellison—the first Muslim elected to Congress—enters the race to chair the Democratic National Committee, reread this interview on the cause he stands for: progressivism — and the best books to read to fully understand it.

  • The best books on Progressivism - Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story by Martin Luther King Jr
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and assisted by Alex Haley, Laurence Fishburne (narrator)
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Two-Income Trap by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Tyagi
  • The best books on Progressivism - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson
  • The best books on Progressivism - God’s Politics by Jim Wallis

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

As American congressman Keith Ellison—the first Muslim elected to Congress—enters the race to chair the Democratic National Committee, reread this interview on the cause he stands for: progressivism — and the best books to read to fully understand it.

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by Keith Ellison

    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism, recommended by Eric Foner

  • Read
    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Tragedy of American Diplomacy by William Appleman Williams

    1

    The Tragedy of American Diplomacy
    by William Appleman Williams

  • Read
    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The End of Reform by Alan Brinkley

    2

    The End of Reform
    by Alan Brinkley

  • Read
    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - Pivotal Decade by Judith Stein

    3

    Pivotal Decade
    by Judith Stein

  • Read
    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - To Stand and Fight by Martha Biondi

    4

    To Stand and Fight
    by Martha Biondi

  • Read
    The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Feminist Promise by Christine Stansell

    5

    The Feminist Promise
    by Christine Stansell

  • Historian Eric Foner chooses five books illustrating how concepts of American liberalism have changed over the past 50 years, and about the tension that lies at the heart of liberalism today.

  • The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Tragedy of American Diplomacy by William Appleman Williams
  • The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The End of Reform by Alan Brinkley
  • The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - Pivotal Decade by Judith Stein
  • The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - To Stand and Fight by Martha Biondi
  • The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism - The Feminist Promise by Christine Stansell

The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism, recommended by Eric Foner

Historian Eric Foner chooses five books illustrating how concepts of American liberalism have changed over the past 50 years, and about the tension that lies at the heart of liberalism today.

The best books on The Evolution of Liberalism, recommended by Eric Foner

    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist, recommended by Paul Krugman

  • Read
    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov

    1

    Foundation Trilogy
    by Isaac Asimov

  • Read
    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume

    2

    An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding
    by David Hume

  • Read
    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes

    3

    The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money
    by John Maynard Keynes

  • Read
    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Persuasion by John Maynard Keynes

    4

    Essays in Persuasion
    by John Maynard Keynes

  • Read
    Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Economics by James Tobin

    5

    Essays in Economics
    by James Tobin

  • Paul Krugman, Nobel prize-winning economist, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, and Emeritus Professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton, discusses the books that most influenced his formation as a liberal economist.

  • Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
  • Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding by David Hume
  • Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money by John Maynard Keynes
  • Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Persuasion by John Maynard Keynes
  • Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist - Essays in Economics by James Tobin

Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist, recommended by Paul Krugman

Paul Krugman, Nobel prize-winning economist, Op-Ed columnist for the New York Times, and Emeritus Professor of Economics and International Affairs at Princeton, discusses the books that most influenced his formation as a liberal economist.

Books that Inspired a Liberal Economist, recommended by Paul Krugman

    The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

  • Read
    The best books on Progressive America - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    1

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

  • Read
    The best books on Progressive America - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

    2

    A Tale of Two Cities
    by Charles Dickens

  • Read
    The best books on Progressive America - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

    3

    To Kill a Mockingbird
    by Harper Lee

  • Read
    The best books on Progressive America - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

    4

    Team of Rivals
    by Doris Kearns Goodwin

  • Read
    The best books on Progressive America - John Adams by David McCullough

    5

    John Adams
    by David McCullough

  • In the last of our series of interviews on American progressivism, the mayor of Los Angeles chooses five novels and biographies that provide lessons from the past and show what a democratic society should aspire to be

  • The best books on Progressive America - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • The best books on Progressive America - A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
  • The best books on Progressive America - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  • The best books on Progressive America - Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
  • The best books on Progressive America - John Adams by David McCullough

The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

In the last of our series of interviews on American progressivism, the mayor of Los Angeles chooses five novels and biographies that provide lessons from the past and show what a democratic society should aspire to be

The best books on Progressive America, recommended by Antonio Villaraigosa

    The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

    1

    Silent Spring
    by Rachel Carson

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

    2

    The Grapes of Wrath
    by John Steinbeck

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr

    3

    Letter from the Birmingham Jail
    by Martin Luther King Jr

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Wellstone

    4

    The Conscience of a Liberal
    by Paul Wellstone

  • Read
    The best books on Progressivism - The Other America by Michael Harrington

    5

    The Other America
    by Michael Harrington

  • John Kerry, the 68th United States Secretary of State, picks five books that every progressive should read, and discusses the divide in America between the haves and have-nots

  • The best books on Progressivism - Silent Spring by Rachel Carson
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  • The best books on Progressivism - Letter from the Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Conscience of a Liberal by Paul Wellstone
  • The best books on Progressivism - The Other America by Michael Harrington

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

John Kerry, the 68th United States Secretary of State, picks five books that every progressive should read, and discusses the divide in America between the haves and have-nots

The best books on Progressivism, recommended by John Kerry

    Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Sovereign Virtue by Ronald Dworkin

    1

    Sovereign Virtue
    by Ronald Dworkin

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Justice, Gender, and the Family by Susan Moller Okin

    2

    Justice, Gender, and the Family
    by Susan Moller Okin

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - The American Political Tradition by Richard Hofstadter

    3

    The American Political Tradition
    by Richard Hofstadter

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

    4

    Winner-Take-All Politics
    by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson

  • Read
    Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Collapse by Jared Diamond

    5

    Collapse
    by Jared Diamond

  • The prominent left wing blogger tells us what books have shaped his worldview. He explains why America needs to wake up to the forces preventing change, and better understand the root causes of its political deadlock

  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Sovereign Virtue by Ronald Dworkin
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Justice, Gender, and the Family by Susan Moller Okin
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - The American Political Tradition by Richard Hofstadter
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob S Hacker and Paul Pierson
  • Influences of a Progressive Blogger - Collapse by Jared Diamond

Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

The prominent left wing blogger tells us what books have shaped his worldview. He explains why America needs to wake up to the forces preventing change, and better understand the root causes of its political deadlock

Influences of a Progressive Blogger, recommended by Matthew Yglesias

    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

  • Read
    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind

    1

    A Hope in the Unseen
    by Ron Suskind

  • Read
    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America by Cristina Page

    2

    How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America
    by Cristina Page

  • Read
    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

    3

    Cry, The Beloved Country
    by Alan Paton

  • Read
    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Rain of Gold by Víctor Villaseñor

    4

    Rain of Gold
    by Víctor Villaseñor

  • Read
    The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

    5

    Mountains Beyond Mountains
    by Tracy Kidder

  • Cecile Richards, American pro-choice activist and former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, discusses the stories of struggle and resilience that have inspired her and can give encouragement to others seeking change

  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - A Hope in the Unseen by Ron Suskind
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America by Cristina Page
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Rain of Gold by Víctor Villaseñor
  • The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference - Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder

The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

Cecile Richards, American pro-choice activist and former president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, discusses the stories of struggle and resilience that have inspired her and can give encouragement to others seeking change

The best books on How Progressives Can Make a Difference, recommended by Cecile Richards

    The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - A Country That Works by Andy Stern

    1

    A Country That Works
    by Andy Stern

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Future Shock by Alvin Toffler

    2

    Future Shock
    by Alvin Toffler

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut

    3

    Cat’s Cradle
    by Kurt Vonnegut

  • Read
    The best books on Bringing Change to America - Taking Charge by Byrd Baggett

    4

    Taking Charge
    by Byrd Baggett

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    The best books on Bringing Change to America - The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

    5

    The Tipping Point
    by Malcom Gladwell

  • The former union boss shares his reading list for American progressives, and tells us what makes a good leader and how it takes only a few committed people to bring change

  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - A Country That Works by Andy Stern
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Future Shock by Alvin Toffler
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - Taking Charge by Byrd Baggett
  • The best books on Bringing Change to America - The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell

The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

The former union boss shares his reading list for American progressives, and tells us what makes a good leader and how it takes only a few committed people to bring change

The best books on Bringing Change to America, recommended by Andy Stern

    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism, recommended by Franklin Foer

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The State by Woodrow Wilson

    1

    The State
    by Woodrow Wilson

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand

    2

    The Metaphysical Club
    by Louis Menand

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly

    3

    The Promise of American Life
    by Herbert Croly

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter

    4

    The Age of Reform
    by Richard Hofstadter

  • Read
    The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Paradox of American Democracy by John Judis

    5

    The Paradox of American Democracy
    by John Judis

  • As part of our series on American progressivism, journalist and author Franklin Foer discusses the genesis of liberalism and how the American Civil War remade politics.

  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The State by Woodrow Wilson
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Metaphysical Club by Louis Menand
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Promise of American Life by Herbert Croly
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter
  • The best books on The Roots of Liberalism - The Paradox of American Democracy by John Judis

The best books on The Roots of Liberalism, recommended by Franklin Foer

As part of our series on American progressivism, journalist and author Franklin Foer discusses the genesis of liberalism and how the American Civil War remade politics.

The best books on The Roots of Liberalism, recommended by Franklin Foer

    The best books on Change in America, recommended by Van Jones

  • Read
    The best books on Change in America - The Bridge by David Remnick

    1

    The Bridge
    by David Remnick

  • Read
    The best books on Change in America - Means of Ascent by Robert Caro

    2

    Means of Ascent
    by Robert Caro

  • Read
    The best books on Change in America - In Struggle by Clayborne Carson

    3

    In Struggle
    by Clayborne Carson

  • Read
    The best books on Change in America - A Poetics of Resistance by Jeff Conant

    4

    A Poetics of Resistance
    by Jeff Conant

  • Read
    The best books on Change in America - Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins & Paul Hawken

    5

    Natural Capitalism
    by Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins & Paul Hawken

  • In the latest instalment of our series on American progressivism, the environmental advocate and human rights activist tells us why the age of Obama will really only begin after the president has left office

  • The best books on Change in America - The Bridge by David Remnick
  • The best books on Change in America - Means of Ascent by Robert Caro
  • The best books on Change in America - In Struggle by Clayborne Carson
  • The best books on Change in America - A Poetics of Resistance by Jeff Conant
  • The best books on Change in America - Natural Capitalism by Amory Lovins, L. Hunter Lovins & Paul Hawken

The best books on Change in America, recommended by Van Jones

In the latest instalment of our series on American progressivism, the environmental advocate and human rights activist tells us why the age of Obama will really only begin after the president has left office

The best books on Change in America, recommended by Van Jones

About

We ask experts to recommend the five best books in their subject and explain their selection in an interview.

This site has an archive of more than one thousand seven hundred interviews, or eight thousand book recommendations. We publish at least two new interviews per week.

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