We Go High

Can a good speech save democracy? “Anyone interested in the past, present and future of speeches and speechwriting will find [this] a fascinating read.” —The Spectator When First Lady Michelle Obama approached the podium at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, nobody could have predicted that her rousing line “When they go low, we go high” would become the motto for the political left and an anthem for opponents of oppression worldwide. It was a speech with the kind of emotional pull rarely heard these days, joining a long list of addresses that have made history. But what was it that made this speech so great? When They Go Low, We Go High explores the most notable speeches in history, analyzing the rhetorical techniques to uncover how the right speech at the right time can profoundly shape the world. Traveling across continents and centuries, political speechwriter Philip Collins reveals what Thomas Jefferson owes to Cicero and Pericles; who really gave the Gettysburg Address; and what Elizabeth I shares with Winston Churchill. In telling the stories of famous and sometimes infamous speeches—including those from Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, JFK, Martin Luther King, Jr., Disraeli, Hitler, Elie Wiesel, Margaret Thatcher, and Barack and Michelle Obama—Collins breathes new life into words you thought you knew well, telling the story of democracy. Whether it’s the inaugural addresses of presidents or the revolutionary writings of Castro, Pankhurst, and Mandela, Collins illuminates and contextualizes these moments with sensitivity and humor. When They Go Low, We Go High examines the power of public speaking and serves as an urgent reminder that words can change the world. “Hits on three unassailable truths: rhetoric and democracy must go hand-in-hand; democracy, for all of its flaws, is superior to tyranny; and democracy is currently under assault.” —Paste “Collins . . . understands intimately the mechanics of rhetoric. He believes that we, as human beings, possess the capacity to extract ourselves from the swamp in which we have sunk.” —The Times

The editor of Hugs from Obama presents this photographic celebration of the former first lady’s elegance and strength in Go High: The Unstoppable Presence and Poise of Michelle Obama. Featuring more than 50 full-color photographs illustrating her warmth, wisdom, and belief in a bright future, this one-of-a-kind collection highlights Michelle Obama’s compassion, verve, and dynamic approach to unifying people from all walks of life. Each picture is accompanied by some of her most compelling words—inspirational quotes sharing her earnest expression that the United States of America is a place of unity, fairness, vitality, and optimism. A perfect gift book for mothers and graduates, Go High revisits the beloved first lady’s heartfelt embrace of the American people, and her persistent encouragement to always lift one another up, reach higher, and rise to the occasion.

Follow the life lessons of 30 remarkable women of color who are making their mark on society and culture. "When you are struggling and you start thinking about giving up, I want you to remember something ... and that is the power of hope." -Michelle Obama (White House speech, 2017) We Go High brings together the inspiring stories, motivational quotes, and personal philosophies of 30 influential women of color who have sought to overcome challenges in their lives. From activists to scientists, artists to sporting icons, each woman's story is different-but all have in common a deep-seated resilience to fight against the prejudices and barriers to success that women of color face on a daily basis. The book features political powerhouses such as Kamala Harris and Stacey Abrams, as well as businesswomen like Arundhati Bhattacharya and Angelica Ross, and writers Michaela Coel and Amanda Gorman. With 30 stunning, specially commissioned portraits, We Go High not only celebrates these remarkable women's achievements, but uncovers the personal beliefs, attitudes, and determination that drive them.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE • ROXANE GAY'S AUDACIOUS BOOK CLUB PICK Shortlisted for the The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction "Moving and thought-provoking . . . offering psychological insights in lyrical prose while seriously exploring speculative conceits." — New York Times Book Review "Haunting and luminous . . . Beautiful and lucid science fiction. An astonishing debut." — Alan Moore, creator of Watchmen and V for Vendetta Recommended by New York Times Book Review • Los Angeles Times • NPR • Wall Street Journal • Entertainment Weekly • Esquire • Good Housekeeping • NBC News • Buzzfeed • Business Insider • Bustle • Goodreads • The Millions • The Philadelphia Inquirer • Minneapolis Star-Tribune • San Francisco Chronicle • The Guardian • PopSugar • Literary Hub • and many more! For fans of Cloud Atlas and Station Eleven, a spellbinding and profoundly prescient debut that follows a cast of intricately linked characters over hundreds of years as humanity struggles to rebuild itself in the aftermath of a climate plague—a daring and deeply heartfelt work of mind-bending imagination from a singular new voice. In 2030, a grieving archeologist arrives in the Arctic Circle to continue the work of his recently deceased daughter at the Batagaika Crater, where researchers are studying long-buried secrets now revealed in melting permafrost, including the perfectly preserved remains of a girl who appears to have died of an ancient virus. Once unleashed, the Arctic plague will reshape life on Earth for generations to come, quickly traversing the globe, forcing humanity to devise a myriad of moving and inventive ways to embrace possibility in the face of tragedy. In a theme park designed for terminally ill children, a cynical employee falls in love with a mother desperate to hold on to her infected son. A heartbroken scientist searching for a cure finds a second chance at fatherhood when one of his test subjects—a pig—develops the capacity for human speech. A widowed painter and her teenaged granddaughter embark on a cosmic quest to locate a new home planet. From funerary skyscrapers to hotels for the dead to interstellar starships, Sequoia Nagamatsu takes readers on a wildly original and compassionate journey, spanning continents, centuries, and even celestial bodies to tell a story about the resilience of the human spirit, our infinite capacity to dream, and the connective threads that tie us all together in the universe. "Epic . . . Sequoia Nagamatsu is a writer whose imagination is matched only by his compassion, the kind we need to light our way through the dark." — Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists "Wondrous, and not just in the feats of imagination, which are so numerous it makes me dizzy to recall them, but also in the humanity and tenderness with which Sequoia Nagamatsu helps us navigate this landscape. . . . This is a truly amazing book, one to keep close as we imagine the uncertain future." — Kevin Wilson, New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to See Here

"In the tradition of bestselling explainers like The Tipping Point, [this] book [is] based on cutting edge science that breaks down the idea of extreme conflict--the kind that paralyzes people and places--and then shows how to escape it"--

Civil Rights Activists and Politicians An old saying. . . Without them (trailblazers) there would be no us, and without their courage and sacrifices, many civil rights and politicians’ careers might have been thrown under the bus. A dynamic group of politicians and civil rights activists, who just wanted to make sure that people’s rights would not be abused, denied, or dismissed. Music Genres This gifted and talented group of musicians are well known in the music game, they sing many genres of music and each of them has a famous name. There’s Aretha, Bill, and Bobby, Fats, Ma Rainey and Marvin Gaye, Mahalia, Mary, and Michael Jackson, R&B, soul, and gospel, music that they can sing or play. Gladys, Jennifer, and John, Stevie Wonder, and Patti LaBelle, Travis, Jon, and Tina Turner, relatable stories in their songs, that they can beautifully tell. Entertainment An extraordinary list of entertainers, comedians, movie stars, entrepreneurs, and TV host, and in each of their distinguished professions, they are famous from coast to coast. Past entertainer legends had a much harder way to go, they took the hard knocks and challenges but success for them came very slow. While the current entertainers, also paid their dues, although their success was not without lots of anxiety, they had more options from which to choose. Sports Icons Damian, Giannis, Patrick, and Simone, Wilma Rudolph a legend of the past, each of them is an MVP in their sport and important members of their professional teams’ cast. Whether these superstar athletes participate in basketball, football, gymnastics, or track, the one thing they all have in common is that they are young, talented, gifted, and Black.

A perennial favorite, Dr. Seuss’s wonderfully wise graduation speech is the perfect send-off for children starting out in the world, be they nursery school, high school, or college grads! From soaring to high heights and seeing great sights to being left in a Lurch on a prickle-ly perch, Dr. Seuss addresses life’s ups and downs with his trademark humorous verse and illustrations, while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within. In a starred review, Booklist notes: “Seuss’s message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.’” This Read & Listen edition contains audio narration.