Books to Read

Not sure where to start reading?  Here are some suggestions and recommendations.

John Lewis: Time for Good Trouble

Reading John Lewis (links to books in Schlow Library &/or Centre County Library)

• Carry On: Reflections for a New Generation by John Lewis

• Across that Bridge: a Vision for Change and the Future of America by John Lewis

• Walking With the Wind: a Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis

• His Truth is Marching: John Lewis and the Power of Hope by Jon Meacham

• John Lewis: Good Trouble (DVD)

• March. Book One by John Lewis (first volume in 3 volume graphic format biography)

• Fighting with Love: the Legacy of John Lewis by Lesa Cline-Ransome (for ages 4-8; many more titles in library catalog for YA and children)

Reading Other Books and Resources

• Banned Books

  • Top 10 Banned & Challenged Books by year

  • 50 Most Banned Books in America Right Now

John Lewis Quotes for Inspiration

• "Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America."  — Lewis speaking atop the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, on March 1, 2020

• "When you see something that is not right, not just, not fair, you have a moral obligation to say something, to do something." (https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/02/07/impeachment-is-over-but-dont-despair/) 

• "You must find a way to get in the way; you must find a way to get in trouble: good trouble, necessary trouble." (https://speakola.com/grad/john-lewis-emory-university-2014) 

• "We are one people; we are one family; we all live in the same house, not just the American house, but the world house." (https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/john-lewis-we-must-never-ever-give-msna154676) 

• "We need someone who will stand up and speak up and speak out for the people who need help, for people who are being discriminated against. And it doesn't matter whether they are black or white, Latino, Asian, or Native American, whether they are straight or gay, Muslims, Christians, or Jews." (https://naacplosangeles.org/f/naacpla-inspiring-john-lewis-quotes-on-voting-social-justice) 

• "You are a light. You are the light. Never let anyone — any person or any force — dampen, dim or diminish your light … Release the need to hate, to harbor division, and the enticement of revenge. Release all bitterness. Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won." ― Lewis on being human in Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America

• "Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is not the struggle of one judicial appointment or presidential term. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes, and each one of us in every generation must do our part." ― John Lewis,  Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America

• "Take a long, hard look down the road you will have to travel once you have made a commitment to work for change. Know that this transformation will not happen right away. Change often takes time. It rarely happens all at once. In the movement, we didn't know how history would play itself out. When we were getting arrested and waiting in jail or standing in unmovable lines on the courthouse steps, we didn’t know what would happen, but we knew it had to happen." — Lewis on protesting in Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change

• "Nothing can stop the power of a committed and determined people to make a difference in our society. Why? Because human beings are the most dynamic link to the divine on this planet." ― Lewis on political change in Across That Bridge: Life Lessons and a Vision for Change

• In John Lewis' book, Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement, he shared an event in the prologue that reflects a major motivation in his life.  Mr. Lewis told of being at his Aunt Seneva's home during a thunderstorm.  His aunt moved everyone indoors and during the storm the house started to shake.  All the children and their aunt were scared and then the house began to sway and a corner of the house started lifting up.  Aunt Seneva had them hold hands and walk toward the corner of the room that was rising.  When another corner lifted up she walked the group toward that corner.  Later as Mr. Lewis looked back on that experience and the events of the 1960s he realized that the people of conscience didn't run away, they came together and moved to the "corner of the house that was the weakest."  Eventually the storm would subside and the "house" was still standing.  Another storm would come and they would need to do it all over again.  "And we did. And we still do."

This website created to provide citizens resources to help tend to our democracy and keep it healthy.  Many of the events & organizations will be for Centre County, PA, but the "Get Involved" and the "Time to Learn" sections are helpful everywhere.

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