🏛️ Community Power Studies

Examinations of who really runs a town or neighborhood — the formal leaders, the backroom dealmakers, and the structural forces that shape collective fate.

Who Really Rules? New Haven and Community Power Reexamined

by G. William Domhoff • 1978

The pluralists said nobody ruled New Haven. Three club rosters and Yale's board minutes disagree.

3.75

🏙️ Urban Politics 👑 Elite Theory 📊 Political Sociology

Who Really Rules? New Haven and Community Power Reexamined Summary

Who Really Rules? New Haven and Community Power Reexamined 92%

The pluralists said nobody ruled New Haven. Three club rosters and Yale's board minutes disagree.

by G. William Domhoff 1978

3.75

8 ratings

🏙️ Urban Politics 👑 Elite Theory 📊 Political Sociology

Reveille for Radicals

by Saul D. Alinsky • 1946

Democracy requires organized conflict and leaders from the bottom. A 1946 manual, still unheeded.

3.84

589

🤝 Community Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Democracy 👥 Indigenous Leadership

Reveille for Radicals 92%

Democracy requires organized conflict and leaders from the bottom. A 1946 manual, still unheeded.

by Saul D. Alinsky 1946

3.84

589 ratings

🤝 Community Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Democracy 👥 Indigenous Leadership

Politics Is for Power

by Eitan D. Hersh • 2020

Political obsession is a spectator sport that cedes power to the people who actually organize.

4.09

1k+

🏘️ Community Organizing ⚡ Power Building 📱 Slacktivism

Politics Is for Power 92%

Political obsession is a spectator sport that cedes power to the people who actually organize.

by Eitan D. Hersh 2020

4.09

1k+ ratings

🏘️ Community Organizing ⚡ Power Building 📱 Slacktivism

Hegemony How-To

by Jonathan Smucker • 2017

Activist is a political dead end: it isolates movements, excuses sympathizers, cedes power.

4.24

442

🧭 Movement Strategy 🗳️ Community Organizing 🧠 Gramscian Politics

Hegemony How-To 91%

Activist is a political dead end: it isolates movements, excuses sympathizers, cedes power.

by Jonathan Smucker 2017

4.24

442 ratings

🧭 Movement Strategy 🗳️ Community Organizing 🧠 Gramscian Politics

Rules for Radicals

by Saul D. Alinsky • 1971

A tactical handbook for the powerless: how ridicule, pressure, and their own rules become weapons.

3.73

9k+

🏘️ Community Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Activism ♟️ Political Tactics

Rules for Radicals 91%

A tactical handbook for the powerless: how ridicule, pressure, and their own rules become weapons.

by Saul D. Alinsky 1971

3.73

9k+ ratings

🏘️ Community Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Activism ♟️ Political Tactics

Blueprint for Revolution

by Srdja Popovic • 2015

Rice pudding, Lego men, and the nonviolent playbook that wins twice as often as violence.

4.30

2k+

🕊️ Civil Resistance 🌱 Grassroots Organizing 🧱 Movement Building

Blueprint for Revolution 91%

Rice pudding, Lego men, and the nonviolent playbook that wins twice as often as violence.

by Srdja Popovic 2015

4.30

2k+ ratings

🕊️ Civil Resistance 🌱 Grassroots Organizing 🧱 Movement Building

New Power

by Jeremy Heimans • 2018

Power spreads through networks, not hierarchies. The blueprint for ideas the crowd will carry.

3.81

2k+

🥊 Power Dynamics 🌐 Network Society ✊ Digital Activism

New Power 91%

Power spreads through networks, not hierarchies. The blueprint for ideas the crowd will carry.

by Jeremy Heimans 2018

3.81

2k+ ratings

🥊 Power Dynamics 🌐 Network Society ✊ Digital Activism

Organizing

by Marshall Ganz • 2014

The disciplined craft of turning personal stories and living-room meetings into political power.

4.26

🧱 Community Organizing 🗳️ Civic Leadership 📖 Storytelling For Change

Organizing 91%

The disciplined craft of turning personal stories and living-room meetings into political power.

by Marshall Ganz 2014

4.26

19 ratings

🧱 Community Organizing 🗳️ Civic Leadership 📖 Storytelling For Change

Citizens

by Jon Alexander • 2022

Society runs on two stories: we are subjects or consumers. A third story changes everything.

4.04

317

🗳️ Participatory Democracy 🤝 Civic Engagement 👥 Collective Action

Citizens 91%

Society runs on two stories: we are subjects or consumers. A third story changes everything.

by Jon Alexander 2022

4.04

317 ratings

🗳️ Participatory Democracy 🤝 Civic Engagement 👥 Collective Action

How Change Happens

by Leslie R. Crutchfield • 2018

Six factors determine whether a movement wins or dies. None of them start in Washington.

3.74

160

📢 Social Movements ✊ Community Organizing 🗳️ Political Strategy

How Change Happens 91%

Six factors determine whether a movement wins or dies. None of them start in Washington.

by Leslie R. Crutchfield 2018

3.74

160 ratings

📢 Social Movements ✊ Community Organizing 🗳️ Political Strategy

Paint Your Town Red

by Matthew Brown • 2021

38 million to 111 million: the spending shift that rebuilt a town.

3.71

173

🏘️ Localism 🗳️ Economic Democracy 🤝 Worker Cooperatives

Paint Your Town Red 91%

38 million to 111 million: the spending shift that rebuilt a town.

by Matthew Brown 2021

3.71

173 ratings

🏘️ Localism 🗳️ Economic Democracy 🤝 Worker Cooperatives

Lifehouse

by Adam Greenfield • 2024

Votes and green tech won't stop climate collapse. The real plan: neighbors caring for each other.

3.84

🌱 Community Organizing 🤝 Mutual Aid Networks 🌍 Climate Adaptation

Lifehouse 90%

Votes and green tech won't stop climate collapse. The real plan: neighbors caring for each other.

by Adam Greenfield 2024

3.84

86 ratings

🌱 Community Organizing 🤝 Mutual Aid Networks 🌍 Climate Adaptation

Elite Capture

by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò • 2022

How the powerful co-opted identity politics: from solidarity to symbolic gestures.

3.98

4k+

🏛️ Movement Co-Optation 🏗️ Structural Power 🎭 Symbolic Politics

Elite Capture 90%

How the powerful co-opted identity politics: from solidarity to symbolic gestures.

by Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò 2022

3.98

4k+ ratings

🏛️ Movement Co-Optation 🏗️ Structural Power 🎭 Symbolic Politics

Palaces for the People

by Eric Klinenberg • 2018

Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.

3.97

5k+

🏙️ Public Space 🧱 Placemaking 🤝 Social Capital

Palaces for the People 90%

Stronger than seawalls: the shared spaces that hold communities together when everything breaks.

by Eric Klinenberg 2018

3.97

5k+ ratings

🏙️ Public Space 🧱 Placemaking 🤝 Social Capital

This Is an Uprising

by Mark Engler • 2016

Nonviolence is not a virtue. It is a technology of conflict, and it brings down regimes.

4.20

1k+

🕊️ Civil Resistance 📢 Social Movements 🧱 Movement Building

This Is an Uprising 90%

Nonviolence is not a virtue. It is a technology of conflict, and it brings down regimes.

by Mark Engler 2016

4.20

1k+ ratings

🕊️ Civil Resistance 📢 Social Movements 🧱 Movement Building

Harvest the Vote

by Jane Kleeb • 2020

Democrats lost rural America by walking away. A Nebraska organizer shows how to win it back.

3.82

214

🏘️ Rural Politics ✊ Grassroots Organizing 🏢 Corporate Power

Harvest the Vote 90%

Democrats lost rural America by walking away. A Nebraska organizer shows how to win it back.

by Jane Kleeb 2020

3.82

214 ratings

🏘️ Rural Politics ✊ Grassroots Organizing 🏢 Corporate Power

Why Civil Resistance Works

by Erica Chenoweth • 2011

The most effective weapon against a dictator is not a gun: 200,000 people refusing to cooperate.

3.98

729

🏳️ Civil Resistance 🏛️ Regime Change 🗳️ Democratization

Why Civil Resistance Works 90%

The most effective weapon against a dictator is not a gun: 200,000 people refusing to cooperate.

by Erica Chenoweth 2011

3.98

729 ratings

🏳️ Civil Resistance 🏛️ Regime Change 🗳️ Democratization

Who Rules America Now? A View for the 80's

by G. William Domhoff • 1083

Exclusive clubs, think tanks, and family offices: how a tiny ruling class kept the American agenda.

4.17

🏛️ Political Sociology 🧐 Class Analysis 💰 Wealth Inequality

Who Rules America Now? A View for the 80's Summary

Who Rules America Now? A View for the 80's 90%

Exclusive clubs, think tanks, and family offices: how a tiny ruling class kept the American agenda.

by G. William Domhoff 1083

4.17

30 ratings

🏛️ Political Sociology 🧐 Class Analysis 💰 Wealth Inequality

Power

by Dennis Wrong • 1996

Power must become authority to last, and every command carries both threat and attachment.

4.00

🏛️ Political Sociology 📜 Political Theory ⚖️ Coercion And Consent

Power 90%

Power must become authority to last, and every command carries both threat and attachment.

by Dennis Wrong 1996

4.00

18 ratings

🏛️ Political Sociology 📜 Political Theory ⚖️ Coercion And Consent

Revolutionary Power

by Shalanda Baker • 2021

Clean energy could dismantle inequality or deepen it. The difference: who owns the panels.

4.17

190

🏛️ Energy Policy 🏭 Environmental Racism 🔋 Clean Energy Transition

Revolutionary Power 90%

Clean energy could dismantle inequality or deepen it. The difference: who owns the panels.

by Shalanda Baker 2021

4.17

190 ratings

🏛️ Energy Policy 🏭 Environmental Racism 🔋 Clean Energy Transition

How To Trump SJWs

by Manon Welles • 2016

Steal the left’s playbook: ridicule, pressure, personalization. Your counterstrike manual.

4.25

181

🏛️ Conservative Strategy ✊ Political Activism ⚔️ Culture Wars

How To Trump SJWs 90%

Steal the left’s playbook: ridicule, pressure, personalization. Your counterstrike manual.

by Manon Welles 2016

4.25

181 ratings

🏛️ Conservative Strategy ✊ Political Activism ⚔️ Culture Wars

Justice at Work

by Marc Doussard • 2022

How coalitions fuse racial and economic justice to win policy in cities.

5.00

🏙️ Urban Policy ✊ Labor Movements 🤝 Coalition Building

Justice at Work 90%

How coalitions fuse racial and economic justice to win policy in cities.

by Marc Doussard 2022

5.00

3 ratings

🏙️ Urban Policy ✊ Labor Movements 🤝 Coalition Building

Who Rules America?

by G William Domhoff • 2021

America's 0.5%: how interlocking boards, elite schools, and a captured court hold power.

3.70

📊 Political Sociology 🔺 Power Elite Theory 🕸️ Elite Networks

Who Rules America? 90%

America's 0.5%: how interlocking boards, elite schools, and a captured court hold power.

by G William Domhoff 2021

3.70

20 ratings

📊 Political Sociology 🔺 Power Elite Theory 🕸️ Elite Networks

Fragmented Democracy

by Jamila Michener • 2018

Your zip code decides your Medicaid benefits. It also decides whether you bother with politics.

4.23

120

🏛️ American Federalism 🏥 Health Policy ⚖️ Political Inequality

Fragmented Democracy 90%

Your zip code decides your Medicaid benefits. It also decides whether you bother with politics.

by Jamila Michener 2018

4.23

120 ratings

🏛️ American Federalism 🏥 Health Policy ⚖️ Political Inequality

Cognitive Surplus

by Clay Shirky • 2010

Spare time, once captive to television, is now building public goods at the scale of nations.

3.83

6k+

🏭 Peer Production 🎬 Participatory Culture 🧠 Intrinsic Motivation

Cognitive Surplus 90%

Spare time, once captive to television, is now building public goods at the scale of nations.

by Clay Shirky 2010

3.83

6k+ ratings

🏭 Peer Production 🎬 Participatory Culture 🧠 Intrinsic Motivation

Community Building on the Web

by Amy Jo Kim • 1999

Nine design rules for online communities that earn trust and grow more intimate, not less.

3.68

101

🏘️ Community Management 🎨 Community Design 🔄 Membership Models

Community Building on the Web 90%

Nine design rules for online communities that earn trust and grow more intimate, not less.

by Amy Jo Kim 1999

3.68

101 ratings

🏘️ Community Management 🎨 Community Design 🔄 Membership Models

The Quiet Before

by Gal Beckerman • 2022

Why the movements that changed the world began with letters and zines, not viral posts.

3.79

485

🏴 Social Movements 📰 Media History 📢 Political Communication

The Quiet Before 90%

Why the movements that changed the world began with letters and zines, not viral posts.

by Gal Beckerman 2022

3.79

485 ratings

🏴 Social Movements 📰 Media History 📢 Political Communication

Wobblies and Zapatistas

by Staughton Lynd • 2008

What the Zapatistas and the Wobblies got right that both Marxists and anarchists keep missing.

3.89

473

🏴 Libertarian Socialism 📜 Radical History ✊ Direct Action

Wobblies and Zapatistas 90%

What the Zapatistas and the Wobblies got right that both Marxists and anarchists keep missing.

by Staughton Lynd 2008

3.89

473 ratings

🏴 Libertarian Socialism 📜 Radical History ✊ Direct Action

Two Cheers for Anarchism

by James C. Scott • 2012

The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.

3.96

2k+

🏴 Anarchist Thought 🏛️ State Critique 📜 Local Knowledge

Two Cheers for Anarchism 89%

The anarchist's case: local know-how, small defiance, and messy disorder beat grand plans.

by James C. Scott 2012

3.96

2k+ ratings

🏴 Anarchist Thought 🏛️ State Critique 📜 Local Knowledge

Feminist Theory

by bell hooks • 1984

Feminism failed by designing itself for the suburban wife, not the working-class woman of color.

4.44

9k+

✊🏾 Black Feminism 🕸️ Intersectional Feminism 🏛️ Patriarchy And Capitalism

Feminist Theory 89%

Feminism failed by designing itself for the suburban wife, not the working-class woman of color.

by bell hooks 1984

4.44

9k+ ratings

✊🏾 Black Feminism 🕸️ Intersectional Feminism 🏛️ Patriarchy And Capitalism

The Good Society

by Robert N. Bellah • 1991

Individualism gutted our institutions. Repair begins where the myth ends: we need each other.

3.66

105

🏘️ Communitarianism 🗳️ American Civic Life 🏛️ Democratic Theory

The Good Society 89%

Individualism gutted our institutions. Repair begins where the myth ends: we need each other.

by Robert N. Bellah 1991

3.66

105 ratings

🏘️ Communitarianism 🗳️ American Civic Life 🏛️ Democratic Theory

Digital Dead End

by Virginia Eubanks • 2011

Access is not the problem. Power designs inequality into code, and the marginalized already know it.

3.86

💻 Digital Inequality 🔬 Critical Technology Studies ✏️ Participatory Design

Digital Dead End 89%

Access is not the problem. Power designs inequality into code, and the marginalized already know it.

by Virginia Eubanks 2011

3.86

72 ratings

💻 Digital Inequality 🔬 Critical Technology Studies ✏️ Participatory Design

Emergent Strategy

by Adrienne Maree Brown • 2017

No one commands a flock or a forest. What that means for building social movements that endure.

4.25

10k+

🏗️ Movement Building 🔄 Systems Thinking 🕊️ Transformative Justice

Emergent Strategy 89%

No one commands a flock or a forest. What that means for building social movements that endure.

by Adrienne Maree Brown 2017

4.25

10k+ ratings

🏗️ Movement Building 🔄 Systems Thinking 🕊️ Transformative Justice

Join the Club

by Tina Rosenberg • 2011

Peer pressure has toppled dictators and slowed epidemics. The case for aiming it deliberately.

3.49

340

🫂 Peer Pressure ✊ Social Movements 🏥 Community Health

Join the Club 89%

Peer pressure has toppled dictators and slowed epidemics. The case for aiming it deliberately.

by Tina Rosenberg 2011

3.49

340 ratings

🫂 Peer Pressure ✊ Social Movements 🏥 Community Health

Rules for Revolutionaries

by Becky Bond • 2016

The volunteer-led organizing model that scales from a living room to a nationwide movement.

3.84

762

📢 Political Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Campaigns 🤝 Volunteer Mobilization

Rules for Revolutionaries 89%

The volunteer-led organizing model that scales from a living room to a nationwide movement.

by Becky Bond 2016

3.84

762 ratings

📢 Political Organizing 🌱 Grassroots Campaigns 🤝 Volunteer Mobilization

Social Entrepreneurship

by Ryszard Praszkier • 2011

The secret of lasting social change: stop pushing the system and start shifting its attractor.

3.80

🌍 Social Entrepreneurship 🔄 Systems Thinking ⚙️ Systems Change

Social Entrepreneurship 89%

The secret of lasting social change: stop pushing the system and start shifting its attractor.

by Ryszard Praszkier 2011

3.80

20 ratings

🌍 Social Entrepreneurship 🔄 Systems Thinking ⚙️ Systems Change

Glimpses of Utopia

by Jess Scully • 2020

A fair society is not theoretical. Its pieces are already running in cities across the world.

3.97

110

🗳️ Participatory Democracy 💡 Alternative Economics 🌳 Commons Stewardship

Glimpses of Utopia 89%

A fair society is not theoretical. Its pieces are already running in cities across the world.

by Jess Scully 2020

3.97

110 ratings

🗳️ Participatory Democracy 💡 Alternative Economics 🌳 Commons Stewardship

Occupy

by Noam Chomsky • 2012

Occupy's tents came down. The national argument it started about concentrated wealth never stopped.

3.59

2k+

🪙 Income Inequality 🗳️ Money In Politics 🏗️ Movement Building

Occupy 89%

Occupy's tents came down. The national argument it started about concentrated wealth never stopped.

by Noam Chomsky 2012

3.59

2k+ ratings

🪙 Income Inequality 🗳️ Money In Politics 🏗️ Movement Building

On Power

by Robert A. Caro • 2017

How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.

3.95

1k+

🏙️ Urban Planning 🏛️ Political Power 🗳️ Machine Politics

On Power 89%

How one man built a financial empire inside the government and became untouchable.

by Robert A. Caro 2017

3.95

1k+ ratings

🏙️ Urban Planning 🏛️ Political Power 🗳️ Machine Politics

Get Together

by Bailey Richardson • 2019

Start with five passionate friends, not 500 strangers: the lean playbook for communities that last.

3.77

735

🧱 Community Building 🔧 Lean Methodology 🙋 Participatory Design

Get Together 89%

Start with five passionate friends, not 500 strangers: the lean playbook for communities that last.

by Bailey Richardson 2019

3.77

735 ratings

🧱 Community Building 🔧 Lean Methodology 🙋 Participatory Design

Making Democracy Work

by Robert D. Putnam • 1992

When Italy gave its regions identical governments, only those with ancient civic roots succeeded.

3.87

868

🏛️ Social Capital 🧩 Collective Action 🌍 Comparative Politics

Making Democracy Work 89%

When Italy gave its regions identical governments, only those with ancient civic roots succeeded.

by Robert D. Putnam 1992

3.87

868 ratings

🏛️ Social Capital 🧩 Collective Action 🌍 Comparative Politics

Bowling Alone

by Robert D. Putnam • 2000

The clubs emptied and Americans stopped voting. The damage goes deeper than loneliness.

3.85

9k+

🏛️ Social Capital 🗳️ Civic Engagement 📉 Community Decline

Bowling Alone 89%

The clubs emptied and Americans stopped voting. The damage goes deeper than loneliness.

by Robert D. Putnam 2000

3.85

9k+ ratings

🏛️ Social Capital 🗳️ Civic Engagement 📉 Community Decline

Spirit Of Community

by Amitai Etzioni • 1993

The rights expansion forgot the duties. What it cost American communities, and how to rebuild.

3.50

🏘️ Communitarianism ⚖️ Rights And Duties 📚 Moral Education

Spirit Of Community 89%

The rights expansion forgot the duties. What it cost American communities, and how to rebuild.

by Amitai Etzioni 1993

3.50

80 ratings

🏘️ Communitarianism ⚖️ Rights And Duties 📚 Moral Education

Community

by Peter Block • 2008

Belonging is not a program but a conversation: here is how to host it.

4.06

2k+

🏢 Organizational Culture 🏛️ Civic Engagement 🌱 Asset-Based Thinking

Community 89%

Belonging is not a program but a conversation: here is how to host it.

by Peter Block 2008

4.06

2k+ ratings

🏢 Organizational Culture 🏛️ Civic Engagement 🌱 Asset-Based Thinking

The First New Nation

by Seymour Martin Lipset • 1963

Before the developing world could fail, America figured out how to make a new nation survive.

4.13

🧱 Nation Building ⚖️ Comparative Politics 🇺🇸 American Exceptionalism

The First New Nation 89%

Before the developing world could fail, America figured out how to make a new nation survive.

by Seymour Martin Lipset 1963

4.13

16 ratings

🧱 Nation Building ⚖️ Comparative Politics 🇺🇸 American Exceptionalism

Together

by Richard Sennett • 2011

The rituals and crafts that make cooperation possible are being dissolved by short-term capitalism.

3.81

469

🧱 Social Cooperation 🏙️ Urban Sociology 🎭 Ritual And Society

Together 89%

The rituals and crafts that make cooperation possible are being dissolved by short-term capitalism.

by Richard Sennett 2011

3.81

469 ratings

🧱 Social Cooperation 🏙️ Urban Sociology 🎭 Ritual And Society

Notes on Resistance

by Noam Chomsky • 2022

Four crises are converging. The institutions that caused them are now blocking every fix.

4.30

405

🌍 Us Foreign Policy 🏛️ American Politics ✊ Political Resistance

Notes on Resistance 89%

Four crises are converging. The institutions that caused them are now blocking every fix.

by Noam Chomsky 2022

4.30

405 ratings

🌍 Us Foreign Policy 🏛️ American Politics ✊ Political Resistance

Manufacturing Consent

by Mark Achbar • 1994

No conspiracy, no censorship: why the news in a free society still serves the powerful.

4.41

699

📖 Critical Media Studies 📊 Political Economy 🔍 Propaganda Studies

Manufacturing Consent 89%

No conspiracy, no censorship: why the news in a free society still serves the powerful.

by Mark Achbar 1994

4.41

699 ratings

📖 Critical Media Studies 📊 Political Economy 🔍 Propaganda Studies

The Moral Basis of a Backward Society

by Edward C. Banfield • 1958

Why some societies stay poor: a moral code that stops at the family doorstep.

3.84

245

🏛️ Political Culture 📈 Economic Development 🤝 Collective Action

The Moral Basis of a Backward Society Summary

The Moral Basis of a Backward Society 89%

Why some societies stay poor: a moral code that stops at the family doorstep.

by Edward C. Banfield 1958

3.84

245 ratings

🏛️ Political Culture 📈 Economic Development 🤝 Collective Action

Open Democracy

by Hélène Landemore • 2020

Elections hand power to the few. A design for ordinary citizens to actually rule.

4.09

109

🗳️ Democratic Theory 🏛️ Citizen Assemblies 💬 Deliberative Democracy

Open Democracy 89%

Elections hand power to the few. A design for ordinary citizens to actually rule.

by Hélène Landemore 2020

4.09

109 ratings

🗳️ Democratic Theory 🏛️ Citizen Assemblies 💬 Deliberative Democracy

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