Soul of a Democrat (tent.): Recovering the Seven Myths that Make Our Party Great

A concise history of the Democratic party and the founding myths and principles it has abandoned over time, thus losing its working class base—and its soul.

The 2016 election resulted in the Democratic Party ceding control of every branch of government to the GOP. The talking heads have offered countless explanations and excuses for this upset, but Thomas B. Reston illuminates the true cause: the party has lost its soul.

The Democratic Party has abandoned any unifying ideological message in favor of policy-oriented goals. Instead of creating platforms that appeal to Americans as a whole, candidates campaign by targeting blocks of voters, changing their talking points to better fit each audience. The Democrats need a coherent, consistent set of ideas if they want to remain competitive on the national stage. The good news is, they already have one.

In Soul of a Democrat, readers take a journey through the history of the Democratic Party, learning of the successes and failures of its greatest figures, from Thomas Jefferson to Harry Truman. These great men knew that a successful political party needs solid ideological roots, a relatable message, and solidarity in its ranks. This book shows modern Democrats how to learn from the past, craft a new approach to politics, and once again become the party of the people.