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    Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times

    How to Reclaim Your Power, Fight for Freedom, and Reimagine Democracy

    Author Skye Perryman
    Paperback
    $16.99 US
    Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed | Ten Speed Press
    5-13/16"W x 8"H | 8 oz | 24 per carton
    On sale Aug 25, 2026 | 208 Pages | 9798217273997
    Add to cart Add to list Exam Copies

    Skye Perryman—TIME 100 honoree and CEO of Democracy Forward—offers an urgent, inspiring blueprint for how ordinary people can fight for freedom in extraordinary times.

    The future of our country lies in all of our hands. From protecting voting rights and public schools to finding courage in the face of fear, Skye Perryman makes the case that defending democracy isn’t the job of lawyers or politicians alone—it’s a role for every one of us, seasoned and brand-new activists alike.

    Drawing on her frontline experience challenging threats to democracy in courtrooms across the nation, Perryman combines gripping personal stories with practical “how-to” guides that empower readers to take action in their own communities.

    Accessible, hopeful, and deeply practical, this inspiring book shows that the path forward begins not in the halls of power but at our kitchen tables, in our neighborhoods, and through the everyday choices we make to speak up, build community, and protect our future.
    “These are troubling times for our democracy—but Skye Perryman has provided a manual for people who are tired of wringing their hands and are ready to roll up their sleeves. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is a practical guide to policy and action from a leader who has spent years on the front lines of the fight and knows how change actually gets made.”—Hillary Rodham Clinton

    “Skye Perryman understands that getting our country back on track will take all of us, and she’s providing the tools we need to meet this moment. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is an inspiring and empowering guide for every American who wants to see our nation thrive as a beacon of freedom and democracy.”—Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

    “Justice at the top depends on what we do every day at the bottom. Skye Perryman’s Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times will help to restore the power of every reader.”—Gloria Steinem, writer and activist

    “There are moments in history when sitting on the sidelines stops being an option. Skye Perryman knows we’re in one of them—and she refuses to let any of us pretend otherwise. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is the rare book that captures why this moment is so urgent—and then hands you something to do about it.”—Reshma Saujani, New York Times bestselling author of Pay Up and founder of Girls Who Code

    “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is a clarion call for everyone ready to meet this national and global crisis—and win. Skye Perryman deftly weaves history, anecdote, and proof of concept into a refreshingly accessible work that leaves no one behind. Like her Herculean efforts to hold our courts to their purpose, Skye’s book does the same for Americans and our democracy. A must-read and must-do.”—Stacey Abrams

    “When people say we are living through extraordinary times they surely aren’t kidding, but we are here and for a reason. We just may be the ones we’ve been waiting for. Let’s find out together. Skye Perryman offers a glimpse of a world most thinking people are ready for and she offers not more angst and the obvious, but real direction.”—Annie and Willie Nelson

    “A lot of Americans have stopped believing anyone in Washington is actually listening. I get it. But Skye Perryman isn't asking you to trust the machine—she’s asking you to understand it well enough to show up and fix it. This book is for all of us, regardless of your politics.”—Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee
    Skye Perryman, president & CEO of Democracy Forward and a TIME 100 honoree, is a nationally recognized attorney and leader advancing democracy and individual rights. Under her leadership, Democracy Forward has secured major court victories protecting healthcare, education, and reproductive freedom. Perryman is a frequent media commentator, appearing on NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and NPR, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Time, and Newsweek. A sought-after speaker at venues including SXSW and the Texas Tribune Festival, she is recognized for blending legal expertise with accessible, inspiring storytelling View titles by Skye Perryman

    About

    Skye Perryman—TIME 100 honoree and CEO of Democracy Forward—offers an urgent, inspiring blueprint for how ordinary people can fight for freedom in extraordinary times.

    The future of our country lies in all of our hands. From protecting voting rights and public schools to finding courage in the face of fear, Skye Perryman makes the case that defending democracy isn’t the job of lawyers or politicians alone—it’s a role for every one of us, seasoned and brand-new activists alike.

    Drawing on her frontline experience challenging threats to democracy in courtrooms across the nation, Perryman combines gripping personal stories with practical “how-to” guides that empower readers to take action in their own communities.

    Accessible, hopeful, and deeply practical, this inspiring book shows that the path forward begins not in the halls of power but at our kitchen tables, in our neighborhoods, and through the everyday choices we make to speak up, build community, and protect our future.

    Praise

    “These are troubling times for our democracy—but Skye Perryman has provided a manual for people who are tired of wringing their hands and are ready to roll up their sleeves. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is a practical guide to policy and action from a leader who has spent years on the front lines of the fight and knows how change actually gets made.”—Hillary Rodham Clinton

    “Skye Perryman understands that getting our country back on track will take all of us, and she’s providing the tools we need to meet this moment. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is an inspiring and empowering guide for every American who wants to see our nation thrive as a beacon of freedom and democracy.”—Illinois Governor JB Pritzker

    “Justice at the top depends on what we do every day at the bottom. Skye Perryman’s Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times will help to restore the power of every reader.”—Gloria Steinem, writer and activist

    “There are moments in history when sitting on the sidelines stops being an option. Skye Perryman knows we’re in one of them—and she refuses to let any of us pretend otherwise. Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is the rare book that captures why this moment is so urgent—and then hands you something to do about it.”—Reshma Saujani, New York Times bestselling author of Pay Up and founder of Girls Who Code

    “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times is a clarion call for everyone ready to meet this national and global crisis—and win. Skye Perryman deftly weaves history, anecdote, and proof of concept into a refreshingly accessible work that leaves no one behind. Like her Herculean efforts to hold our courts to their purpose, Skye’s book does the same for Americans and our democracy. A must-read and must-do.”—Stacey Abrams

    “When people say we are living through extraordinary times they surely aren’t kidding, but we are here and for a reason. We just may be the ones we’ve been waiting for. Let’s find out together. Skye Perryman offers a glimpse of a world most thinking people are ready for and she offers not more angst and the obvious, but real direction.”—Annie and Willie Nelson

    “A lot of Americans have stopped believing anyone in Washington is actually listening. I get it. But Skye Perryman isn't asking you to trust the machine—she’s asking you to understand it well enough to show up and fix it. This book is for all of us, regardless of your politics.”—Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee

    Author

    Skye Perryman, president & CEO of Democracy Forward and a TIME 100 honoree, is a nationally recognized attorney and leader advancing democracy and individual rights. Under her leadership, Democracy Forward has secured major court victories protecting healthcare, education, and reproductive freedom. Perryman is a frequent media commentator, appearing on NBC, MSNBC, CNN, and NPR, and her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Time, and Newsweek. A sought-after speaker at venues including SXSW and the Texas Tribune Festival, she is recognized for blending legal expertise with accessible, inspiring storytelling View titles by Skye Perryman

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