Timothy Snyder is the author of many books on the rise of fascism and communism in the 20th century, and he put out this very slim volume (just 126 small pages) in 2017 as a response to the Trump administration. The majority of the book remains as timely as ever. It outlines twenty short lessons on how to maintain a democracy, especially in the face of rising political division and authoritarianism. Most of what it boils down to is this: every citizen must be an engaged citizen, because the institutions that protect democracy and civil rights do not protect themselves. He quotes American abolitionism to say "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." To my pandemic-weary brain, this sounds exhausting, so I have also started reading "Pleasure Activism" by andrienne maree brown to try awake further thoughts on this topic.