Five books for an informed and inspired citizenry in a midterm election year.

Some people like to keep reading light during the summer. Some of us, on the other hand, save up heavier reading for when activity slows down and the days are long. These days there is nothing heavier than the current state of the country, but there is hope, according to some authors. Here’s a list of books that will help readers better understand the state of our country and what to do about it.

When Affirmative Action Was White: An Untold History of Racial Inequality in Twentieth-Century America by Ira Katznelson

Monterey Peninsula College political science instructor Lauren Blanchard says she refers students to this book often to understand how post-WWII government policies have shaped the middle class. The book points out how policies since the 1930s have created racial segregation on a systemic level.

Democracy Incorporated by Sheldon S. Wolin

When the book was first published during the George W. Bush administration, Rowlin was widely criticized for his theory that the U.S. was headed for a totalitarian future. Now it looks like Rowlin’s tea leaf reading was worth paying attention to.

State of Resistance: What California’s Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Mean for America’s Future by Manuel Pastor

The USC sociology and American studies professor makes the case that California is leading the way for the rest of the nation on key issues – immigration and the environment at the top of the list – in the age of Trump. It’s a hopeful book, meant to be a roadmap to a way out of the current national quagmire.

Resistance: Reclaiming an American Tradition by Jeff Biggars

The author of The United States of Appalachia digs into the past for inspirational stories of resistance movements throughout our nation’s history and how they contributed to the betterment of our democracy. The book is required reading this fall for the class “The Politics of Everyday Life” at CSU Monterey Bay.

The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels by Jon Meacham

Another book meant to inspire just published this spring, Meacham draws from history for how the U.S. has previously come through dark political times. The “better angels of our nature,” as President Abraham Lincoln called them, can win again.

Editor's note: Sheldon S. Wolin's name was misspelled as "Rowlin" in the print version of this story.