In Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back, author Richard C. Harwood argues that we are not a nation divided between red states and blue states, urban and rural, secular and spiritual. The problem facing our society is in fact much deeper and more troubling: We are a nation in retreat from politics and public life.

Americans are walking away from the public square because leaders no longer reflect the reality of average people’s daily lives in their words and actions. What’s worse, they are distorting those realities for short-term political gain. This retreat transcends race, class, gender, socioeconomic status, and even political party. People are angry with the conduct of their leaders at the national and even local level, but feel powerless to do anything about it.

Hope Unraveled is based on conversations Rich has had with ordinary Americans across the country over the past 15 years, through major research initiatives funded by some of the nation’s largest and most prestigious foundations. It is a story written in their own words, a re-telling of their stories, and a highly in-depth, authentic picture of the current status of today’s society.

How do we begin to fix such an overwhelming problem? We must begin to forge alternate pathways for people to return to the public square. This can happen, but it won’t be easy. Indeed, it will require all of us to examine ourselves and re-examine our role in public life.

Hope Unraveled: The People’s Retreat and Our Way Back is published by Kettering Foundation Press. Neither Rich Harwood nor The Harwood Institute receive proceeds from book sales. If you are interested in a deeper understanding of public life and want to begin a dialogue on how we can collectively fight the people’s retreat, order your copy today from Amazon.com.