About the Book

In print 9.16.25

Somebody Should Do Something shows that creating the social change we want is possible, but only if we rethink our approach.

As conversations about climate change, racial injustice, and systemic inequality dominate headlines and dinner tables alike, more and more people are asking the same thing: “What difference can I make?” Somebody Should Do Something offers an answer to that question — one that’s practical, science-backed, and full of heart.

Written by philosophers Michael Brownstein, Alex Madva, and Daniel Kelly, the book is for anyone who feels stuck between focusing on taking personal responsibility for what they can control in their own lives and trying to create big, systemic change. The authors know the feeling — they’ve been there too.

“We’re not wonks. We’re three philosophers frustrated by the wrong lessons we were taught about these problems.” Instead of offering top-down policy solutions, the authors take a bottom-up approach — introducing readers to people who are already connecting everyday actions to big-picture outcomes. From Amazon warehouse unionizers to urban tree planters and reproductive rights advocates, these stories show how ordinary people are changing systems by working together.

One of the book’s main contributions is its takedown of a harmful binary: the idea that we must either make better personal choices or change the system. This “either/or” mindset leaves many people feeling like their efforts are too small to matter.

The authors offer an alternative: a “both/and” way of thinking that recognizes our lives are deeply intertwined with the systems we hope to change. To solve large-scale problems, we need both individual action and collective effort — personal behavior and institutional reform.

Far from abstract or academic, Somebody Should Do Something offers practical strategies readers can use to start making change right now. These steps aren’t theoretical — they’re grounded in contemporary social science and brought to life through real stories and engaging insights:

● Join forces. Change doesn’t happen alone. Talk to coworkers, neighbors, or friends about shared concerns — movements begin in conversation.

● Signal your values. Bike to work. Carry a reusable bottle. Show up. Small acts shape public norms.

● Shape your future self. Turn one-off choices into long-term habits, molding your future self into a changemaker.

● Turn habits into influence. When you speak up at work or shift your diet, you’re not just making a choice — you’re modeling one.

● Know your institutions. Learn how your school board works or how zoning decisions are made. Local changes don’t just add up, they multiply exponentially.

● Make the invisible visible. Talk about race, climate, inequality — even if it feels uncomfortable. Silence protects the status quo.

● Use your role. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, voter, or manager, your social roles offer unique platforms for influence.

● Create feedback loops. The authors explain how to ignite change that spreads — small sparks can trigger lasting structural shifts.

This book for anyone who’s tired of feeling helpless — and ready to understand how real change starts, spreads, and sticks.