Blog Archives
Positive Politics: A Proven Playbook to Get into Politics, Change Your Life, and Change the World
Positive Politics is a guidebook for anyone who wants to step into public life with clarity, courage, and a sense of purpose. Author Neil Thanedar lays out a practical playbook for how ordinary people can enter politics, build momentum through activism, and ultimately make a meaningful impact. The book mixes personal stories, political theory, and hands-on instruction. Thanedar opens with his father’s journey from poverty in India to serving in the US Congress, using that story as proof that political life is not reserved for elites. From there, the book moves through two arcs: why politics needs new voices and how to actually get started.
Thanedar’s writing has a direct and confident tone, and he keeps returning to one central belief: ambitious optimists can and should lead. His stories about watching political rooms from the inside, learning how negative incentives shape behavior, and seeing how ordinary activists turn ideas into bills all made the book feel grounded. He doesn’t pretend politics is pretty. He talks openly about corruption, cynicism, and personal attacks, but he frames them as challenges that can be met with transparency and action. The rhythm of the writing moves between clipped, punchy lines and longer reflections that read like someone thinking out loud about what they’ve seen and what they wish more people understood.
What surprised me most were the parts where he breaks down politics into simple, relatable pieces. His idea that politics is basically a long, iterative game reminded me of someone flipping on the lights in a dim room. Suddenly the noise makes more sense. Being nice, taking action, getting quick wins, thinking long term, going direct, and staying independent. These principles sound simple, but the examples he uses give them weight. Seeing his father win some races, lose others, and still find deeper purpose in the work made the ideas feel lived in rather than theoretical. And when Thanedar writes about ambitious optimists, it genuinely feels like an invitation, not a slogan.
By the end, I felt both clearer and more cautious, in the best way. Clearer about how change actually happens and cautious in the sense that the work is harder, slower, and more personal than it looks from the outside. If you’re someone who already cares about civic life but feels overwhelmed or unsure where to begin, this book will likely speak to you. It’s part memoir, part instruction manual, and part motivational nudge. People who enjoy political nonfiction that blends practical strategy with accessible storytelling will get the most out of it.
Pages: 222 | ASIN: B0FWF8XDX3
The Spiral Can Be Reversed
The Path from Hell to Heaven is a philosophical and psychological map of the ego, tracing how people spiral downward into “Hell” through fear, shame, and denial, and upward toward “Heaven” through trust, openness, and renewal. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because ego explains nearly every human collapse and ascent, yet most people never receive a practical map for it. I wanted to translate psychological chaos—fear, shame, denial—into a recognizable model anyone could use, the same way we map complex systems in software or business architecture. This book is that missing human blueprint: a self-debugging framework that moves readers forward instead of leaving them looping in abstraction.
How did you come up with the concept of the two-sided spiral of the ego and develop this into a process that readers can implement into their own lives to find clarity and understanding of themselves?
I analyzed patterns before individuals. Ego contracts or expands; there’s no true neutral. Avoiding truth descends, openness creates lift. The spiral metaphor stuck because it captures momentum and acceleration.
To make it implementable, I structured it as an RPM self-awareness loop:
- R – Recognize the ego state you’re operating in
- P – Pause the automatic reaction loop
- M – Move with intentional correction or openness
It’s diagnostic and reversible, giving readers a clear exit path whether they’re descending or rebuilding upward.
I found the ideas presented in your book relatable and appreciated the actionable steps that readers can take to find their own clarity. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The concepts that mattered most to me were:
- Ego itself isn’t the problem → closed ego is
- Narcissism is often unprocessed fear wearing armor
- Pain isn’t identity, it’s a turning point
- Ambition without self-awareness becomes self-sabotage
- Recognition of the loop always comes before the escape
And above all—I wanted a book that doesn’t just sound smart, but gets applied and changes outcomes.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Path from Hell to Heaven?
That their ego has directions, and so do they. If they feel stuck, defensive, ashamed, or overwhelmed—it’s a state, not a life sentence. The spiral can always be reversed, rebooted, and climbed. The only real trap is believing the descent is normal and permanent.
This book is a Map of the Ego’s Double Spiral — a journey every individual, family, and society travels between Hell (closed ego) and Heaven (open ego).
Through vivid metaphors and grounded psychological insight, LANOU unveils how pain becomes protection, how protection turns to illusion, and how awakening begins when trust cracks the shell.
You’ll see yourself, groups, and even nations in these patterns:
The wound that starts the descent.
The mask that hides pain through control.
The collapse that breaks illusion.
The trust that starts renewal.
The open ego that frees love and truth.
Structured as a fractal spiral, the book reveals six repeating steps across all scales — from individuals to groups to the world itself. It blends the clarity of psychology with the simplicity of spiritual truth: hell is repetition; heaven is renewal.
Once you see the map, you cannot unsee it.
The Path from Hell to Heaven: The 2 Sided Spiral of the Ego
This book is a philosophical and psychological map of the ego, tracing how individuals, groups, and societies spiral downward into “Hell” through fear, shame, and denial, and how they rise toward “Heaven” through trust, openness, and renewal. It’s written like a guide for self-awareness, where the ego’s descent, wound, shell, mask, illusion, collapse, and denial are mirrored by its ascent through trust, openness, adulthood, mastery, and renewal. Each section builds on the last, connecting personal trauma to collective dysfunction and, finally, to global healing. The language is clear and rhythmic, sometimes poetic, and the structure moves like a spiral itself, repeating ideas but deepening them each time.
I liked how direct this book is and how it pointed to familiar pain without drowning in theory. The writing style blends psychology and spirituality without turning preachy. I could feel the author’s intention: to wake readers up, not to comfort them. Sometimes the simplicity of the prose makes it cut deeper than expected. It’s not a book that flatters, it exposes. At points, it felt like being called out and held at the same time. The “spiral” metaphor worked for me; it explained so much of what people repeat in life, from personal self-sabotage to entire societies collapsing under pride and denial.
The book’s tone is confident, almost absolute, which can feel heavy when you’re already raw. The ideas are strong, but their repetition across individual, group, and world scales sometimes blurs the freshness. Yet even then, I found myself underlining lines, rereading them, and thinking of people I know who live both spirals at once. The message that Heaven and Hell are not destinations but daily states of ego, sticks.
I’d recommend The Path from Hell to Heaven to people who crave clarity more than comfort. It’s for readers who think deeply about healing, leadership, and the way our inner wounds ripple into culture and politics. Therapists, activists, or anyone burned out on shallow self-help would probably find it bracing. It doesn’t tell you what to do; it shows you what you’re already doing. And if you’re willing to face that, it can be liberating.
Pages: 151 | ASIN : B0FT5HM9RS
The Politics of Hope
Beyond the Politics of Contempt explores how ordinary Americans can move from division to dignity, offering a compassionate roadmap for healing relationships, communities, and democracy itself. Why was this an important book for you to write?
We wanted to write the book now given how much division we have in our country. Large numbers of us are fearful and untrusting of others, and many have lost hope in our democratic republic. We wish to transform this politics of fear and contempt into the politics of hope, and build a national culture of kindness, dignity, and respect. At one level, we offer practical solutions for readers who want to heal their relationships with their estranged relatives, neighbors, and friends, and in the process, strengthen their mental health. At another level, through collective action, we can strengthen our communities and nation.
You describe dignity as a “muscle” we’ve forgotten how to use. What daily practices help people strengthen it again?
For many of us, an important first step is getting in touch with our values. We have an entire chapter devoted to identifying our values, and then examining these values in relation to how we feel about others who support politicians we don’t approve of. Owning the disconnect is key to strengthening our muscle of treating others with differing political views with dignity. From there, some engage in a daily physical workshop, or a regular mindfulness meditation practice, or a frequent detox from social media “doomscrolling.” Then, we are ready to tackle conversations on issues we disagree with, becoming curious and humble toward others. We like to say “Be curious, not furious.”
In your research and experience, what’s the most common obstacle that prevents people from having “braver conversations”?
In our experience, there are several obstacles. It may be the fear that others won’t respond positively to our reaching out- -that they will not be heard by “the other side.” Sometimes it’s “Why should I reach out? They created the mess.” Interestingly, sometimes it’s our own side that presents the biggest obstacle – “How can you talk to those people?” We don’t want to alienate our tribes so we stay siloed in our echo chambers.
What gives you hope right now that America can move beyond contempt, and what signs of healing do you see emerging?
Americans are increasingly realizing that we are being manipulated by conflict entrepreneurs, a term describing forces that serve to profit or gain power from sowing division. These include some media outlets, tech companies, some politicians, and foreign powers. Americans don’t want to be taken advantage of – -we believe we are better than this. As we become more aware of the conflict entrepreneurs, our hope is that more of us will see the importance of uniting across differences, not to agree, but to treat each other with respect. We are heartened by the increased membership of Americans in groups such as Braver Angels that promote courageous citizenship, including the skills of engaging in healthy conflict rather than an “us” vs “them” mentality.
Author Links:
GoodReads: Doug Teschner | Beth Malow | Becky Robinson
X (Twitter): Beth Malow
Facebook: Doug Teschner | Beth Malow | Becky Robinson
Website: Book Website | Doug Teschner | Beth Malow | Becky Robinson
“In Beyond the Politics of Contempt, Teschner, Malow, and Robinson offer nourishment for America’s hungry soul. You’ll discover, in invitingly bite-sized chunks, a cogent analysis of how we became so polarized. Diverse in their politics and rich in expertise, these authors add in generous dollops of storytelling where they examine their own assumptions and biases, often with surprising outcomes. Then, they challenge us with intriguing exercises to explore our own role in today’s political dynamic. Take them up on the challenge. Use this book to get together with colleagues or cousins, neighbors or strangers, friends or frenemies, and explore the art of listening to understand.”
—Susan Clark, coauthor of Slow Democracy: Rediscovering Community, Bringing Decision Making Back Home
In a climate of widespread contempt and even hatred for people who disagree politically, we can each make important contributions to better our lives, our relationships, and our country. We can stand up for what we believe while also building bridges across the political divide. While many fear for our nation’s future, there are practical steps we can each take to build hope for a better America. The book includes:Skills for greater self-awareness of how our reactions to political events and others impact our health and well-being;
Practical ways to mend relationships torn apart by politics and to empower yourself and others when difficult conversations arise;
Steps to integrate political activism and bridge building; and
Actions to rebuild a national culture of kindness, dignity, and respect.
Beyond the Politics of Contempt: Practical Steps to Build Positive Relationships in Divided Times
Beyond the Politics of Contempt is a call to action wrapped in compassion. The authors, drawing from backgrounds in politics, medicine, and leadership, explore how America’s social and political fractures have deepened into mistrust, fear, and even hatred. Yet they argue that hope isn’t lost. Through a blend of research, storytelling, and personal reflection, they lay out a path for restoring dignity, respect, and empathy in how we engage across differences. Divided into five sections, the book walks the reader from despair to possibility, showing how change begins within individuals before it ripples outward to families, workplaces, and communities. It doesn’t promise utopia. Instead, it offers something more realistic, a map for ordinary people who want to be better and help the country heal.
I found myself pausing often while reading this book, mostly because it hit uncomfortably close to home. The authors’ honesty about their own biases and missteps felt refreshing. They don’t pretend to be moral giants. They’ve lost their tempers, argued badly, and regretted words said in haste. That humility made the lessons land harder. The writing style is approachable, warm, and at times tender. It doesn’t sound like a political science lecture; it sounds like a conversation with a friend who believes you can do better. I appreciated how the stories moved from small moments, a kind word at an airport, a difficult talk with a neighbor, to big societal questions about democracy and trust.
The authors talk about dignity as if it’s a muscle we’ve forgotten how to use. They nudge readers to flex it again, through curiosity, listening, and self-reflection. What stood out most was the emphasis on practical action. This isn’t just a book to make you nod along, it’s meant to change how you behave tomorrow. The sections on “braver conversations” and “healthy vs. unhealthy conflict” gave me tools I can actually see myself trying. And I liked that they don’t ask readers to soften their beliefs or stop caring about politics. They simply ask us to hold conviction without contempt. That’s harder than it sounds, and they know it.
When I finished the book, I felt lighter. Not naïve, just a little more hopeful that small gestures can matter. The authors write like people who love their country enough to tell it some hard truths, and that love comes through. This book isn’t for those looking for political talking points. It’s for anyone who’s tired of the noise and wants to be part of the repair. Teachers, community leaders, public servants, and ordinary citizens will find something useful here. I’d especially recommend it to readers who feel “stuck in the middle,” the ones exhausted by shouting from both sides. Beyond the Politics of Contempt doesn’t scold or preach. It reminds us that we have agency, and that rebuilding trust begins in the smallest, most human moments.
Pages: 302 | ASIN: B0FM5N31K9
A Sustainable Life
Humanity in Trouble and Our Failure to Act is an unfiltered collection of essays that offer insights into the human condition, where humans have gone wrong, and potential solutions to alleviate human suffering on both individual and global scales. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because as a species we have not improved our lot or reversed our negative impact on the environment and life on the planet. We have not lived up to our potential given our big brains and despite our “invention” of science and technology and subsequent understanding of how the Universe works.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Humanity’s lack of connection or respect for Nature resulting in our devastating effect on the environment.
Our lack of impulse control, egocentric nature, and failure to live up to the potential of our big brains.
Gradual but impending environmental devastation and high probability of species-level extinctions, including our own.
Perpetual emergence of dictatorial, warlike leaders throughout history, now armed with nuclear weapons.
What advice do you have for individuals who feel powerless in the face of the world’s current challenges and want to make a positive impact?
Start with working to improve all aspects of one’s own existence: live a sustainable life, support humanitarian and environmental action, vote for enlightened political candidates, practice charity, study the self, meditate, improve the education of children, and promote global peace.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Humanity in Trouble and Our Failure to Act?
You are not a “separate being” but rather a sentient member of the Universe interconnected with the web of all life, matter, and energy, and act accordingly by practicing gratitude, love, and compassion.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Amazon
This book is the result of overwhelming outrage and disappointment with our species, our failure to adequately address worldwide problems that threaten our very existence. We (if there is a ‘we’) should be embarrassed and ashamed. Nature has endowed us with near perfect bodies and amazing brains and for the most part we squander our evolutionary inheritance. And the greatest gift of all, consciousness, is under-developed in most of us. In this collection of essays, the author offers insights into the human condition, the reasons we have run afoul of the natural order, along solutions to alleviate human suffering on an individual and global scale plus some playful jabs at our human folly.
19th-Century Politics
The Cauldron: A Struggle for Survival follows brothers deep in the throes of the Civil War, political turmoil, and personal struggles. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration came from the regimental history of the unit my great-grandfather, Thomas J. Donal, served in – 128th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, the “Goldstream Regiment.”
What research did you do for this novel to get it right?
I read all or part of 30 books on battles in the Civil War, 19th-century politics, and other social issues. I also read numerous online articles.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
The condition for all of us is that we are limited. Our talent – no matter how great – is limited. All of our resources are limited. But we strive and we learn through failure. Great fiction celebrates the struggles and achievements of ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
Can readers look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
The Cauldron has been a four-year marathon. I have a few books waiting in the wings, but no schedule for getting them published.
LITERARY TITAN 