POSITIVE POLITICS

Thanedar, an entrepreneur and the son of a U.S. congressperson, makes a case for an optimistic approach to political activism.

“The fight for our future is now in politics,” the author declares in the book’s introduction, which cautions readers that cynicism and distrust of political institutions is a threat to democratic norms. Indeed, politicians from both main parties, per the author’s analysis, have abandoned optimism; he cites President Donald Trump’s relentless negativity, as well as a quote from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats (“the American Dream has become a nightmare”). Drawing on his own background as a businessperson and as the son of U.S. rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan), the author urges readers to embrace the “ambitious optimism” that’s embodied by startup investors and such politicians of the past as President John F. Kennedy. An embrace of “Positive Politics” from the grassroots to federal level, Thanedar asserts, is a prerequisite to creating a renewed political milieu that focuses on “positively shaping our long-term future.” The book’s first half presents the author’s case, noting that politicians with positive messages have long had success throughout American history, and that the country is desperate for a new point of view. The second half offers pragmatic steps on how to enter the political fray and build grassroots coalitions that will bring about change; the author also provides advice on how to earn political capital, turn activism into legislation, and identify potential political victories. Although cynics may characterize this book’s approach to politics as Pollyannaish, Thanedar’s personal vignettes help to counter this perception; for example, he draws on the concrete experiences of his father, who was born to a poor family in Karnataka, India, and found success in America—first as an entrepreneur in chemical manufacturing and drug development and then as a politician, known nationally for his staunch progressivism. Throughout, the author’s convincing argument, supported by more than 100 research endnotes, demonstrates how positivity must be defended in an era when dystopian malaise dominates.

A well-crafted case for a new politics that effectively draws on personal stories.