Hello, citizen readers! Each summer, Civic Nebraska compiles a list of must-read books that inspire, inform, and ignite our collective understanding of democracy. From gripping histories and powerful memoirs to sharp political analysis and moving fiction, our Summer of Democracy Reading List is a crowd-sourced celebration of the written word, and a reminder that democracy is something we live, question, and build together.

That’s where you come in. What book has opened your eyes to injustice, or given you hope for change? What title has helped you better understand power, government, identity, or civic life? Civic Nebraska is now accepting submissions for our 2025 Summer of Democracy Reading List, and we want to hear what’s moved you lately.

In times like these, when democracy is tested and headlines move fast, it’s good to slow down with a book – to think, to listen, to learn. Your recommendation doesn’t have to be brand new, a bestseller, or a weighty academic treatise. Heck, it doesn’t even have to be a work of nonfiction. Some of the most powerful books on our past lists (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) have been novels, essays, poetry, or graphic novels. What matters is that they deepen our understanding of what it means to be a citizen, a neighbor, and a participant in our shared American experiment.

Nominating is easy! Just send us the following:

›› The title and author of your recommended book;

›› A sentence or two about why you’re recommending it; and

›› Your name and city, so we can give you credit!

Send your submission to st*********@***********ka.org or use this simple form by 5 pm CDT on Friday, May 23. The official 2025 Reading List will be published on Memorial Day – Monday, May 26, just in time for summer reading season.

So, what’s on your shelf? Let us know, and help us build the 2025 Summer of Democracy Reading List together. Let’s make this summer one of reflection, conversation, and connection.