The Big Read 2025

We are pleased to announce that our third annual "Big Read" will take place on Monday, April 7, at 2-4 p.m. in the Husky Union Building (HUB) Lyceum. 

UW Political Science Professor Dr. Jack Turner will lead a conversation with Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, author of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America (2023). A leading voice on American democracy, Richardson has helped shape national conversations on history, politics and civic engagement.

All members of the UW community are encouraged to attend this in-person event.

We will have 300 free copies of the book available on a first-come, first-served basis. We will post an announcement when books are available for pick-up.

This event is hosted by the College of Arts & Sciences with support from the Office of the Provost. We look forward to your participation in this year’s “Big Read.” 

Register for the event

Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America by Heather Cox Richardson offers a powerful exploration of America's political landscape, revealing how the nation's democratic ideals have been repeatedly challenged — and how they can be reclaimed. Drawing from her study of U.S. history, Richardson traces the rise of authoritarian threats, the erosion of democratic norms and the manipulation of public narratives that have shaped the country’s divisions.

Richardson connects past struggles to present-day challenges, illuminating how systemic inequalities, disinformation and power consolidation threaten democracy. By blending historical insight with a call to action, Democracy Awakening empowers readers to understand the forces at play and inspires them to engage in safeguarding democratic values. As Richardson reminds us, democracy is not self-sustaining — it requires vigilance, participation and a shared commitment to truth.

Investigative journalist Jane Mayer has called the book “a vibrant, and essential history of America's unending, enraging and utterly compelling struggle since its founding to live up to its own best ideals.”

Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is professor of history at Boston College and an expert in nineteenth century America, specializing in politics and economics. Her nightly newsletter, Letters from an American, reaches over 4 million readers. Richardson's award-winning books span subjects including the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, the American West and the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. She is the author of the best-selling Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America.

Richardson was the co-host of the popular podcast Now and Then on the Vox network, and her articles and reviews have been published in the Washington Post, the New York Times and The Guardian, among other outlets.

Dr. Jack Turner is Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington. He specializes in modern political thought, the history of American political thought, and democratic theory. He is the author of Awakening to Race: Individualism and Social Consciousness in America.

Transformation in the academy takes time, thought and collaboration. Building strong relationships across the College is a critical foundation for organizational change. We hope events like our annual Big Read will give students, faculty and staff the opportunity to make connections, share ideas and think about how we can improve the academy together. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully.

• Accessible parking information: for additional questions/accommodations, contact the Transportation Services Events Office via email or at 206.616.8710.
• Map of accessible entrances.
• Printable campus mobility map.
• For general accessibility accommodation requests: contact the Disability Services Office via email or at 206.543.6450, 206.543.6452 (TTY), preferably at least 10 days in advance of the event.
• For interpreting, captioning, amplification services, and TTYs: contact the Coordinator of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services via email or at 206.543.1415, 206.543.6452 (TTY), preferably at least 10 days in advance of the event.