Let's Start the Revolution

In his latest eye-opening exploration, political maverick Ralph Nader dissects the astonishing twists and turns of the 2020 presidential election, a race that left the nation on the edge of its seat. Although Joe Biden clinched victory with a substantial popular vote lead, Nader unveils the precarious nature of the outcome, where a mere 100,000 votes in key swing states could have catapulted Donald Trump back to the presidency.

In Let's Start the Revolution Nader asks: How did the Democrats, despite winning the 2020 election, find themselves teetering on the edge of defeat?

The answers, he finds, lie in the Democratic Party's gradual decline into decrepitude—a self-isolation from blue-collar America, an unhealthy fixation on corporate funding, and an alarming aversion to introspection. Nader argues that the Democrats' abandonment of their base and failure to address critical issues allowed the Republicans to solidify their hold on key states. Let's Start the Revolution exposes the insular nature of the Democratic Party apparatus, adept at fundraising but detached from the grassroots movements that truly define the political landscape. Nader argues that the focus on dollars over principles has eroded the authenticity of the Democratic Party's rhetoric on workers, consumers, and children.

Drawing on historical parallels and real-life examples, Nader unearths the pitfalls of relying on political and media consultants who prioritize corporate interests over the needs of the people, isolating candidates from progressive citizen organizations and obstructing crucial, campaign-winning agendas.

As Nader dissects the Democratic Party's stagnation, he offers a compelling narrative on its post-2010 decline, exploring the devastating impact of gerrymandering and the loss of over 1000 state legislative seats. The book highlights the party's inability to connect with voters, missing opportunities for meaningful engagement, and perpetuating a cycle of defeat. The Democrats have written off competing in half the country and have ceased to be a true national party.

Let's Start the Revolution is not just a critique but a call to action. Nader advocates for a genuine relationship between the Democratic Party and the everyday lives of the people it seeks to represent. Based on his deep understanding of the necessities, anxieties, and dreams of millions of families, Nader charts a path forward—a path that prioritizes authenticity, community engagement, and a relentless pursuit of the common good. In a political landscape marred by a "divide and rule" polarization emanating from the power struggle between the major parties, this book serves as a vital roadmap for revitalizing democracy, empowering all citizens, and steering the Democratic Party away from cronyism and complacency. Ralph Nader's latest work is a rallying cry for those who believe in the power of the people to arouse the heart of American democracy.

Ralph Nader is an author, a lecturer, an attorney, and an American political activist in areas of consumer and worker protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. He is the bestselling author of many books, including Unsafe at Any Speed, a critique of the safety record of American automobile manufacturers. The book led to congressional hearings and automobile safety laws passed in 1966, including the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. He was instrumental in the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC), and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Many lives have been saved by Nader's involvement in the recall of millions of unsafe consumer products, including defective motor vehicles, and in the protection of laborers and the environment. By starting dozens of citizen groups, Ralph Nader has created an atmosphere of corporate and governmental accountability. Nader is a four-time candidate for president of the United States, having run as the Green Party nominee in 1996 and 2000 and as an independent candidate in 2004 and 2008.

Praise for Let's Start the Revolution:

"Ralph Nader is our Thomas Paine, penning the consequences of a broken government and entrusting us with the visionary tools needed to rebuild."--Patti Smith

"For more than half a century Ralph Nader has sounded the tocsin about the dangers that concentrated corporate power inflicts on American democracy and our very lives, and he has been at the forefront of the struggle to challenge it. Here he provides an astute account of the Democratic party's capture by corporate interests, the perilous consequences of that capture for our politics and public policy, and a general road map for changing course to develop a politics that centers on public needs."--Adolph Reed, Jr., Professor Emeritus, University of Pennsylvania and contributor to the Debs-Jones-Douglass Institute's Class Matters podcast 

“Ralph Nader has always been an uncompromising and relentless advocate for justice and a thorn in the side of illegitimate authority. In Let’s Start The Revolution, he continues his lifelong crusade to help us forge a more equitable, sane and democratic future.”--Tom Morello, singer, songwriter, guitarist and political activist

"Ralph is a man of his word, his principles, and his actions. He calls on our moral turpitude for this American democracy and demands we are stronger, relentless and visionary. In this brilliant book, he reminds us, of our very foundation: 'We cannot afford to let the right wing pretend that they can claim freedom as their idea. Freedom has been integral to our progressive narrative and to our victories—from the Freedom Rides to the Freedom Summer.' It's not about freedom to profit, it's about a freedom to live. The revolution is about this freedom and it is about the future. Miigwech Ralph, my hero always."--Winona LaDuke, rural development economist, Akiing Community organization

"This is a book of empowerment through which everyday people use their voices as keystones in building a much more just social architecture for our country. Taking passion to action has been the life's work of Ralph Nader. In Let's Start the Revolution, he also shares his struggles, which have propelled him to the top of the most credible and respected people in the history of our nation."--RoseAnn DeMoro, retired executive director of National Nurses United and board member of Consumer Watchdog

"It's easy to point out what's wrong - and no one does that more consistently and more powerfully than Ralph Nader - but harder to chart a path forward. In Let’s Start the Revolution, Nader compiled two dozen of the country's top activists, experts and leaders to spell out what needs to be done to point us in the right direction on taxes, the bloated military, democracy, climate violence, immigration, racism, reproductive choice, guns and more. The answers are here; what's missing is all of us demanding change. So, if you're pissed off about the state of this country, or if you're a half-asleep Democratic party consultant, pick up this book and get to work!"--Annie Leonard, former executive director, Greenpeace US and author of The Story of Stuff

"Let’s Start the Revolution offers an astute diagnosis of what ails the Democratic Party and a vibrant set of political remedies. This multilayered book shines a bright light on how 'policy must precede messaging to be authentic' — and how genuine civic activism can overcome the torpor of corporate leverage and entrenched power. While Ralph Nader exposes how elites prevent real democracy, he shares vital ideas for how to overcome their grip on government."--Norman Solomon. National Director, RootsAction.org and author of War Made Invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of Its Military Machine