Introducing the Crash Course Book Club—And Our First Read!

If you’ve wondered how to get more engaged, start with this.

One of my favorite parts of being a professor is running a book club with my students. Every semester, we pick a timely, thought-provoking book, read it together, and then—this is the fun part—I invite the author to join us for a no-holds-barred Q&A. It’s been one of the most engaging, energizing experiences I’ve had in the classroom.

Now, I want to open it up to all of you.

Starting today, I’m launching the Crash Course Book Club, an open invitation to my fellow Crashers across the country (and the world!) to read along, think deeply, and ask big questions about the forces shaping our democracy. If you’ve wondered how to get more engaged, start right here.

Here’s how it works:

We’ll all read the same book—nonfiction, political, timely or historical—and once we’ve digested it, the author joins us for a live Q&A. That’s right: the actual author, ready to hear your questions and have a real conversation.

Our first selection?
America First: Roosevelt vs. Lindbergh in the Shadow of War by bestselling historian and Pulitzer Prize finalist

H. W. Brands

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📚 Get your copy of the book here! New, used, ebook, audio—it don’t matter.

This book is both a compelling narrative and a mirror to our current moment—a nation divided over how to engage with the world, told through the fierce rivalry between FDR and Charles Lindbergh. Brands doesn’t just tell history—he animates it in a way that makes the past feel urgent and alive.

What’s next?
Start reading! You’ve got a few months before we host our live Q&A with Dr. Brands—and trust me, you won’t want to miss it. Specific date and time coming soon. (Subscribers will be the first to know.)

So grab a copy, mark it up, and join the club—and bring a +1. Let’s read together. Let’s question together. Let’s build something thoughtful—and maybe even a little fun.

The Crash Course Book Club is officially in session.

Let’s go.