Giving Up Is Unforgivable

A Manual for Keeping a Democracy

De: Joyce Vance

Narrado por: Joyce Vance

Instant New York Times bestseller

A political manifesto for our present moment—part history lesson, part call to save the Republic

"Brilliant, galvanizing, and inspirational. A road map to help us find our way out of the darkness." —Mary L. Trump

We’re in this together.

For the past several years, Joyce Vance has signed off posts on her chart-topping Substack, "Civil Discourse", with these four words. In that time, she has guided readers through a continued erosion of democratic norms, the unprecedented felony conviction of an ex-president, and the constitutionally calamitous beginning to the second Trump administration. Here, Vance offers a blueprint for avoiding burnout and despair, and for strengthening our democratic muscle.

Giving Up Is Unforgivable is a clarion call to action, putting our current crisis in historical context and sketching out a vision for where we go next. Vance’s message is hopeful at its heart, even as it acknowledges the daunting challenges that lie ahead. She is the constitutional law professor you never knew you needed, explaining the legal context and the political history— and why the rule of the law still matters. At the same time, she empowers the reader to do something, both as individuals and collectively.

Consider this the birth of a countermovement to Project 2025, a rallying cry for citizen engagement to combat the second Trump administration and save American democracy.

Brilliantly written and told.

I’ve admired Joyce’s intellect since I became aware of her and her background, primarily through seeing her on MSNBC and by listening to her podcast with her other sisters. This book clearly speaks to our challenges, and is also hopeful and optimistic.

Informative and inspiring

I enjoyed the structure and content, and the delivery was enjoyable, Joyce Vance’s knowledge of and love for law and democracy is contagious,

Excellent book! Very inspiring!!

This is an excellent read! Joyce Vance is brilliant and right on target with ideas, analysis and recommendations for all of us! Highly recommend!! Excellently narrated.

The rule of law matters

What is more important than saving democracy? As a 75 year old, white male and a retired science I am extremely concerned about about the world that we are leaving to our children and grandchildren. For almost 30 years, I have been teaching and learning about climate change. One of my main concerns is that we are going to leave a very damaged planet that will be unstable to provide a wholesome life for the humans and the organisms that share this special place.. Joyce’s explanation about where we have come from and where we are headed in today’s United States is spot on. I truly wish that this book were mandatory reading for every citizen before they were allowed to vote. She makes it clear that if you truly love America and the democracy that provides all the freedoms that we may or may not take for granted, then you’ve got to fight to keep it. I’ve been blessed to live in a very special period of time in America for democracy has made a great number of advances. But I have been distraught to watch Trump and his two terms in office with his minions tearing down what so many fought and died to give us. While America is not perfect, we should never take for granted what a special country we are privileged to live in. Doing something, anything you have the time and energy to engage with will help to preserve a democracy that has sustained America for almost 250 years. Donald Trump and his DOJ , his Republican Congress and 6 Extreme Court members are dismantling democracy just as it was laid out in project 2025. Please consider what small or large larger thing you can do to help our democracy survive. Carry on the fight for generations to follow. We are at a critical point where action and determination by those who love the constitution and all it gives to our citizens, we must fight with everything we have. Doing anything less is likely to allow the freedoms we enjoy to be discarded. Thank you for giving us so much to think about and encouraging us to take the actions needed to stop autocracy from overwhelming America.

The author's reading is the best!

This book is so clearly written, give us historical context, and there is such hope in the last chapter about "what can we do" to make things better!!