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Table of Contents
About The Book
Instant New York Times bestseller
A political book for non-political people from viral TikTok sensation PoliticsGirl.
Something’s gone wrong in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We can all feel it, but if we’re being honest, most of us don’t understand it. At the end of the day, we don’t have all the facts, and if you don’t know how something works, how do you fix it?
A Return to Common Sense is a concise, no-nonsense, dare we say fun, guide to how America works and a roadmap to reclaiming a government of, by, and for the people.
If we truly want to be a land of freedom and opportunity where everyone has a shot at a good life, we must acknowledge the ideals of America are in danger, but worth saving. We fought a revolutionary war for the idea of self-governance and pursuit of happiness—we can’t just give up on it now.
To address the crisis, Leigh McGowan offers Six American Principles. Six ideals, rooted in history, that we can all agree make America, America.
1. America is a land of freedom.
2. Everyone should have the opportunity to rise.
3. Every citizen should have a vote, and that vote should count.
4. Representatives should represent the people who elected them.
5. The law applies to all of us.
6. Government should be a force for good.
Using the Six Principles as guideposts, this book will lay out suggestions for America, to not only find its way out of the mess it’s currently in, but to set a course for a future of which we can all be truly proud.
It’s time to find the courage to step out of our comfort zones and off our team benches to reboot America. If we start here, we start strong.
We can fix this, but the way forward starts with understanding.
A political book for non-political people from viral TikTok sensation PoliticsGirl.
Something’s gone wrong in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We can all feel it, but if we’re being honest, most of us don’t understand it. At the end of the day, we don’t have all the facts, and if you don’t know how something works, how do you fix it?
A Return to Common Sense is a concise, no-nonsense, dare we say fun, guide to how America works and a roadmap to reclaiming a government of, by, and for the people.
If we truly want to be a land of freedom and opportunity where everyone has a shot at a good life, we must acknowledge the ideals of America are in danger, but worth saving. We fought a revolutionary war for the idea of self-governance and pursuit of happiness—we can’t just give up on it now.
To address the crisis, Leigh McGowan offers Six American Principles. Six ideals, rooted in history, that we can all agree make America, America.
1. America is a land of freedom.
2. Everyone should have the opportunity to rise.
3. Every citizen should have a vote, and that vote should count.
4. Representatives should represent the people who elected them.
5. The law applies to all of us.
6. Government should be a force for good.
Using the Six Principles as guideposts, this book will lay out suggestions for America, to not only find its way out of the mess it’s currently in, but to set a course for a future of which we can all be truly proud.
It’s time to find the courage to step out of our comfort zones and off our team benches to reboot America. If we start here, we start strong.
We can fix this, but the way forward starts with understanding.
About The Author
Format Artists
Leigh McGowan is the host and creator of the viral award-winning digital media brand PoliticsGirl. First launched on YouTube in 2015 and relaunched on TikTok in 2020, Leigh has become a trusted source of information in the age of polarized media helping a diverse audience reconnect with politics and the American experiment. Known for her KitchenRants, breaking down the key issues of the day into digestible pieces, Leigh has amassed hundreds of millions of views, won two Webbys, and launched the highly successful PoliticsGirl Podcast.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atria/One Signal Publishers (September 17, 2024)
- Length: 304 pages
- ISBN13: 9781668066454
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Raves and Reviews
“For people watching right now, in the progressive media space–in any political media space, there are people who do it for followers and fame and money. Leigh is here for the best reasons; she believes so deeply in this stuff. I’ve had the honor of being able to spend time with her; we’ve done work in Wisconsin together, we’ve traveled together. Please support her. This is the exact type of person we should elevate, life up, and whose voice is so important in this movement.”
–No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen
"Accessible and urgent civic advice—hopefully, those who need it will pay attention."
—Kirkus
“I found myself laughing out loud and highlighting this book. I felt smarter after reading it—activated rather than discouraged. It’s easy to outline all the things that are wrong with America, but it takes a special mind to be able to see a way out.”
—Judy Greer
“Common sense is the unsung hero of our decision-making, the silent guide that often goes unnoticed but remains an essential element of our daily lives. From the very first moment I watched Leigh McGowan TikTok from her kitchen, knocking out authentic riffs on politics, democracy, and the failure of politicians, I knew she was all about common sense! In a world where we're bombarded with disinformation, conflicting opinions, and bad behavior, McGowan’s A Return to Common Sense stands out as a beacon of clarity, guiding us through the noise and the chaos—with common sense!”
—Michael Steele, Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Former Chair of the Republican National Committee
“In A Return to Common Sense, Leigh McGowan deftly lays out 6 principles that have defined our country for a generation. In doing so, she reminds us who we are and who we still strive to be as a nation. At a time when every American must be a part of declaring what we stand for— rooted in our common values of freedom, inclusion and democracy—Leigh’s principles help illuminate a path ahead that is grounded in our revolutionary roots and also linked to our aspirations for the future."
—Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State
"Leigh, like Thomas Paine before her, is one of America’s most effective communicators when it comes to the urgency of democracy and democratic reform. America needs this book! If we reimagined our nation along the lines of Leigh’s Six American Principles, we'd build a nation we really could all be proud of."
—Thom Hartmann, New York Times bestselling author and America’s #1 progressive talk show host
"Leigh McGowan's undisputed superpower is that she turns that which is complicated and technical into something understandable and urgent. She's like Schoolhouse Rock meets the Federalist Papers meets your Cool Best Friend. This book will be an essential companion for anyone who suspects that politics is in fact for everyone, and that the time to put skin in the game is right now."
—Dahlia Lithwick, New York Times bestselling author Lady Justice: Women, The Law and the Battle to Save America and Host, Slate's Amicus podcast
"Being able to make complex things simple is an exceedingly rare talent that Leigh McGowan has in spades. I’m excited to see McGowan’s “common sense” civics lessons get out of the kitchen and into the hands of average Americans on the front lines of the fight to save American democracy."
—Rachel Bitecofer, Ph.D., author of Hit 'Em Where It Hurts
“Leigh McGowan understands the stakes in American politics today and speaks to the concerns of all who want to preserve democracy and basic freedoms in this country. Essential reading for those looking for answers at a crucial moment in U.S. history.”
—David Rothkopf, CEO of TRG Media and The DSR Network
"This should be mandatory reading for every American. Some leaders sit in government centers, others speak directly to the people. Leigh speaks to us—not with promises, not with demands, not with some abstract agenda. She reminds us what America is and what it is to live and think and advocate as an American. This book is more than important. It is essential. Read it. Share it. Discuss it. And then, ideally, get involved.”
—Jason Alexander
"I couldn't endorse your book more than anything. Everybody, make sure you get it."
—MeidasTouch
"It's just like [the] podcast. It cuts right to the core, it's accessible, it's smart and it's what we need right now."
—Deep State Radio
Resources and Downloads
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): A Return to Common Sense eBook 9781668066454
- Author Photo (jpg): Leigh McGowan Format Artists(0.1 MB)
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