The book club of the Democrats of Rossmoor will read How to be a Dissident by Gal Beckerman on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 3:00pm p.m. in MPR 2. Please note because of Labor Day this is a new date and place. The discussion will be lead by Stephen Shields
Of this book the publisher writes: “How do we push back in a world where political leaders wield fear and intimidation? Where digital technology dehumanizes and flattens us? We need role models, and in this engaging book, acclaimed writer Gal Beckerman goes looking for them. Drawing on the stories of dissidents from around the globe and across time, from Socrates to Ai Weiwei, and thinkers like Hannah Arendt and Iris Murdoch, Beckerman reveals the defining characteristics these extraordinary figures share, a set of attributes and practices for anyone navigating the pressures of modern tyranny.
Structured around ten qualities—among them, Be Pessimistic, Be Funny, Be Reckless, and Be Immortal—this illuminating, surprising book blends intellectual history, biography, and cultural criticism. It charts a dissident’s journey from the solitary moment of recognizing the truth, through the risks of speaking it, to the legacy that can outlast a life. What makes dissidents tick? And how might we change when we encounter them?”
This slight paperback will make easy summer reading but covers an important subject. It was published this year and costs $19 at local bookstores, $17.71 on Amazon and $13 on Kindle. The public library will deliver a copy to the lockers in Gateway where it can also be returned.
Membership in the Democrats of Rossmoor is not required to attend the discussion but can be obtained, along with information on meetings and the movie club and political action, atDemocratsofRossmoor.org