A Return to Common Sense
How to Fix America Before We Really Blow It
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Narrated by:
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Leigh McGowan
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By:
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Leigh McGowan
About this listen
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.
©2024 Leigh McGowan (P)2024 Simon & Schuster AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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- Telling the Truth about Perfectionism, Inadequacy, and Power
- By: Brené Brown
- Narrated by: Lauren Fortgang
- Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Based on seven years of ground-breaking research and hundreds of interviews, I Thought It Was Just Me shines a long-overdue light on an important truth: Our imperfections are what connect us to each other and to our humanity. Our vulnerabilities are not weaknesses; they are powerful reminders to keep our hearts and minds open to the reality that we're all in this together.
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I'm sure its great if you are a mother ....
- By Leslie A Hill on 08-09-11
By: Brené Brown
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Mythology: Mega Collection
- Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
- By: Scott Lewis
- Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
- Length: 31 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
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An interesting set of introductions.
- By Kevin Potter on 05-30-19
By: Scott Lewis
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The Philosopher's Toolkit: How to Be the Most Rational Person in Any Room
- By: Patrick Grim, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Grim
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
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Taught by award-winning Professor Patrick Grim of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, The Philosopher’s Toolkit: How to Be the Most Rational Person in Any Room arms you against the perils of bad thinking and supplies you with an arsenal of strategies to help you be more creative, logical, inventive, realistic, and rational in all aspects of your daily life.
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This should NOT be an audio book
- By Brooks Emerson on 03-21-20
By: Patrick Grim, and others
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My Big TOE: Awakening
- Book One of a Trilogy Unifying Philosophy, Physics, and Metaphysics
- By: Thomas Campbell
- Narrated by: Thomas Campbell
- Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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My Big TOE: Awakening, written by a nuclear physicist in the language of contemporary culture, unifies science and philosophy, physics and metaphysics, mind and matter, purpose and meaning, the normal and the paranormal. The entirety of human experience (mind, body, and spirit) including both our objective and subjective worlds is brought together under one seamless scientific understanding.
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What a Trip (but to where?)
- By Michael on 11-26-13
By: Thomas Campbell
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Democracy Awakening
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We’d be in a much better position if everyone read this
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Big Tim Fan Here
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Lucky Loser
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From the Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters behind the 2018 bombshell New York Times exposé of then-President Trump’s finances, an explosive investigation into the history of Donald Trump’s wealth, revealing how exactly one of the country’s biggest business failures lied his way into the White House.
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We’d be in a much better position if everyone read this
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Reinforced long held suspicions
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Fred Trump and his destruction of Mary Trump's family
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Unthinkable
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Must reading/listening for every American who has despaired of losing our democracy.
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The Guarantee
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Author Natalie Foster, cofounder of the Economic Security Project, has had a front-row seat to the dramatic leaps forward in government guarantees over the past decade, from student debt relief to the child tax credit expansion. Her brilliantly sketched vision for a new Guarantee Framework is rooted in real life experiences, collaborations with some of today's most important activists and visionaries, and a concrete sense of the policies that are possible—and ready to implement—in twenty-first-century America.
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In 1775 the American colonies were a hotbed of political discord. Many of the British policies, specifically taxes, had caused American colonial leaders to consider the unthinkable: declaring independence from the British Empire and its King George. One such leader, Thomas Paine, wrote Common Sense: a pamphlet that explained the advantages of immediate and complete independence.
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Must read for people who want to know freedom
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Nowhere, Exactly
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M.G. Vassanji has been exploring the immigrant experience for over three decades, drawing deeply on his own transnational upbringing and intimate understanding of the unique challenges and perspectives born from leaving one's home to resettle in a new land. The question of identity, of how to configure and see oneself within this new land, is one such challenge faced. But Vassanji suggests that a more fundamental and slippery endeavour than establishing one's identity is how, if ever, we can establish a sense of belonging.
By: M.G. Vassanji
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Stench
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Armed with an insider’s perspective from his time within the conservative movement, David Brock reveals how the efforts to stack the Supreme Court in service of extreme right-wing interests stem from a decades-long strategy to weaponize our judicial system into an extension of the Republican Party itself.
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Enlightening
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Project 2025: 2 Books in 1
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Imagine a future where the very fabric of American life is under siege—not just from within but also from forces beyond our borders. Project 2025 isn’t just a plan; it’s a ticking time bomb poised to reshape everything you know.
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doesn't give examples of Project 2025
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Say More
- Communicating at Work, at Home, and in the World
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Not many White House Press Secretaries capture the nation’s interest the way Jen Psaki did. Refreshingly candid and clear, Psaki quickly became known for her ability to break through the noise and successfully deliver her message. In her highly anticipated book, Psaki shares her journey to the Briefing Room and beyond, taking you along the campaign trail, to the State Department, and inside the White House under two Presidents.
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Great Story and Background info
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By: Jen Psaki
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Erasing History
- By: Jason Stanley
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- Length: 4 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
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Combining historical research with an in-depth analysis of our modern political landscape, Erasing History issues a dire warning for America and the world: the worst fascist movements of humanity’s past began in schools; the same place so many of today’s right-wing political parties have trained their most vicious attacks. Yale professor Jason Stanley exposes the true danger of the right’s tactics and traces their inspirations and funding back to some of the most dangerous ideas of human history.
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The bias attitude of the author
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By: Jason Stanley
What listeners say about A Return to Common Sense
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- fitgirl
- 10-17-24
Intricate details and history explained in simple, easy to follow dialogue.
I think this is an excellent book and I wish everyone in the United States would read it, especially those who consider themselves patriot, a.k.a. MAGA, a.k.a. conservatives. Sadly, I don’t think that will happen so these words can’t do all the good they should. Thanks to the author and all those involved. I recommend this book, 100%.
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- Sonia B.
- 09-22-24
Quick and Enlightening read
100% recommend this book. Great insights from the author and also educational. Kept me so engaged I finished it in a few days.
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- A.C. Banks
- 10-30-24
Easy listening
The information that it contains is easy to understand.. and up to date with current affairs!!!
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- Kelly K Moussa
- 11-27-24
The authors truth and intelligence
Everything she talked about was true and it scares me about our future I am a 71 year old woman and pray for my family
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- Kris C
- 11-30-24
A Politics Girl For Our Times
Leigh’s take on the current political situation in our country is spot on. I wish that EVERYONE would have read this before November 2024.
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- Sunny
- 11-29-24
Sould be required listening!
Leigh's perspective and clarity, backed up with her plethora of knowledge, is incredibly valuable and deeply appreciated!!❤️ I am honored to share this planet with such a precious Soul!
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- Retired Veteran
- 10-07-24
Very enlightening
I really appreciate the well studied subject, especially the analysis of the period since I took American Government in school (70s). Thank you for the thorough explanation and I think all new voters should be required to take a Civics class before being allowed to vote. We encourage people to register and vote without making sure they understand what and who they are voting for or against.
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Overall
- Victoria
- 09-26-24
A Must Read for Anyone in the USA
This was an excellent, balanced look at the history and current status of the government of the USA.
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- Ruth
- 09-26-24
A Plan to save Democracy with Civics.
Leigh McGowan has a great podcast- PoliticGirls- that is a must listen-to. She have release a great book!!! It tells us how to "Fix America" using 6 principles. The books is interjected with American 101 that provide a Civic/ history lesson. This is a great refresher on American Government and I learned about what my school days didn't teach me. This is must read if you want to learn how to save America using the broken system that we have today.
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- Michele
- 10-17-24
Politics For Dummies
Leigh explains how government works so simply and clearly. You don't need a PHD to understand. Loved this book.
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