Summer 2025 Recommended Reads

Books

1. Tip and the Gipper: When Politics Worked by Chris Matthews
   An entertaining and insightful history of a time when two great political and ideological opponents served together for the benefit of the country.
2. Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In by Roger Fisher and William Ury
   A foundational guide to principled negotiation, teaching how to separate people from problems and focus on mutually beneficial solutions—essential for bipartisan success.
3. The Spirit of Compromise: Why Governing Demands It and Campaigning Undermines It by Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson
   A comprehensive exploration of why compromise is both vital for governance and difficult in modern campaigns—offering practical ideas to cultivate a ‘spirit of compromise’ in politics.
4. Scandal: How “Gotcha” Politics Is Destroying America by Lanny Davis
   Exposes the corrosive impact of sensationalist, adversarial politics and argues for a return to civil, bipartisan problem-solving—echoing MASA’s call for mature national discourse.
5. Breaking the Two Party Doom Loop by Lee Drutman
   The Politics Industry by Katherine Gehl and Michael E. Porter
   (Featured in a Unite America list.) Both books offer systemic insights on how to reduce party gridlock and revitalize American democracy with bipartisan innovation.
6. Inventing the “American Way”: The Politics of Consensus by Wendy L. Wall
   A historical account of post-war national unity efforts, demonstrating that broad consensus-building is deeply rooted in U.S. political culture.

Key Reports & Articles

1. The Bipartisan Path to Effective Lawmaking ( Journal of Politics)
   Academic evidence that building reciprocal bipartisan coalitions leads to substantially more effective legislation.
2. Strange Bedfellows: The Conservative Path the Bipartisan Compromise (Bipartisan Policy Center)
   A policy-focused roadmap showing how conservatives have successfully partnered across the aisle—and how others might follow.
3. Fixing Social Security: Blueprint for a Bipartisan Solution (Brookings Institution)
   Real-world policy analysis detailing actionable bipartisan paths for ensuring the solvency of Social Security.
4. Governing in a Polarized America: A Bipartisan Blueprint (BPC Commission)
   An institutional blueprint for cross-party reforms aimed at strengthening the legislative process.
5. Bridging Divides: America’s Call for Bipartisan Solutions (American Policy Ventures)
   Survey data showing more than 66% of Americans support compromise and collaboration over rigid partisanship.

Why These Reads Align with MASA

• Focus on Practical, Actionable Solutions: From negotiation frameworks to concrete policy recommendations—aligns with MASA’s emphasis on pragmatic solutions.
• Evidence of Public Support: Survey results show Americans want moderation and collaboration.
• Cross-Partisan Approach: Historical and contemporary examples demonstrate that working together effectively transcends ideology.
• Relevance to All Levels of Governance: These works cover everything from local legislative dynamics to national consensus-building—reflecting MASA’s goal to engage all levels of government and society.

---

Follow MASA for more stories, insights, and opportunities to get involved in building a more united and forward-thinking America.