Blessed Are the Organized: Grassroots Democracy in America Paperback - 2012

"The subject of civil society ranks among the most important topics of contemporary democracy. Jeffrey Stout treats this subject in a manner that is original, bold, and saturated with concrete detail. This is an important book for all friends of democracy around the world."--Adam Michnik, author of Letters from Prison and Other Essays

"Democracy, as Jeffrey Stout shows us, is hard work: a tireless, contestatory struggle to make government responsible and to gain recognition and satisfaction for the civically deprived. Channeling the voices of those engaged in this struggle, Stout forces us to rethink our ideas about citizenship and democracy."--Philip Pettit, coauthor of A Political Philosophy in Public Life

"Blessed Are the Organized matches or exceeds its author's previous prize-winning books. I am in awe at how well Jeffrey Stout has transitioned from philosophy of religion to ethnographic research. Would that most ethnographers were able to do field research this well and make it as engaging and powerful."--Robert Wuthnow, Princeton University

"This engaging book makes a significant contribution to the ongoing discussion of the character and future of American democracy. It introduces readers to a long-standing and effective community organizing movement, and offers a hopeful but realistic assessment of what could happen if this model were implemented more widely and consistently. Stout offers a brilliant explanation of the political choices that now lie before us as a nation and as an emerging global society."--Robin W. Lovin, Southern Methodist University

"This original and important book develops an invigorating conception of democratic citizenship today. It is simply one of the most exciting books that I have read in ages."--Danielle S. Allen, Institute for Advanced Study