Whether you’re looking for some stocking stuffers, 8 nights of candlelit reading, or just a good book to curl up with while Mother Nature lets it snow, our Holiday Book List has something for all the civic-minded boys and girls.




Heart of the Nation: By telling of his own personal journey to and experience in public service, John Bridgeland challenges readers to rediscover the idea of “Public Happiness;” the happiness that comes from actively participating in our self-government. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

The Heart and the Fist: This personal memoir by Lt. Eric Greitens highlights the importance of personal service and sacrifice. It chronicles his story of leadership through humanitarian outreach and military duty. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

From Command to Community: A New Approach to Leadership Education in Colleges in Universities: In this collection of innovative and diverse essays, editors Nicholas V. Longo and Cynthia M. Gibson present a new definition of leadership education-- one that moves away from the top-down notion of leadership and considers young people as leaders in the communities where they volunteer, work, and are educated. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

The Gardens of Democracy: Authors Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer argue that some fundamental assumptions about citizenship, society, economics, and government need updating. They view democracy not as a machine, but as a garden, which requires goals, regular tending, and an understanding of connected ecosystems. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

What So Proudly We Hail: A new anthology by Amy and Leon Kass explores the meaning of being an American. Though a book and the help of stories, speeches, and songs, the initiative seeks to educate hearts and minds about American ideals, American identity and national character, and the virtues and aspirations of civic life. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

Teaching America: The Case for Civic Education: A collection of 24 original essays from an extraordinary set of leading public officials, educators, and intellectuals, this book reminds us that keeping our republic requires informed citizenship, which must be taught and learned in every generation. It was compiled by David Feith. Read the NCoC feature or learn more.

Everyone Leads: To solve the problems of our day, we need the leadership of the many. Author Paul Schmitz uses compelling stories and concrete examples to inspire individuals and organizations to see new leadership possibilities within themselves and their communities. Learn more.

KaBOOM! How One Man Built a Movement to Save Play: The personal journey of Darell Hammond, a man who grew up in a group home with seven brothers and sisters and went on to build a world-class nonprofit that harnesses the power of community to improve the lives of children. Learn more.


That’s our list, and we’ve checked our list twice, but we may be missing some great reads! Add to the list by suggesting your own civically minded holiday books below!